Compare towns
Lewiston vs Mapleton vs Biddeford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lewiston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Mapleton has the most homeowners (79.9%).
Biddeford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Lewiston | Mapleton | Biddeford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 38,324Highest |
1,884Lowest |
22,498 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.3±1.2 17% below ME |
41.8±6Highest 7% below ME |
35±2.6Lowest 22% below ME |
| Mapleton and Lewiston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±1.5 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±2.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Lewiston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±1.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.1%±1.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
32.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±1 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
11%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Biddeford and Lewiston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $55,393±$4kLowest 26% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$72,333±$4k 3% below ME |
| Mapleton and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,100±$8k 21% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$396,600±$25kHighest 34% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $986±$44 13% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,292±$100Highest 13% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,899 5% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$4,401Highest 45% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.7%±5.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.2%±6 ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 20%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
48.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 20 yrs older than ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
1952Lowest 25 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 15% below ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
| Work from home | 12.3%±2.4 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±2.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Biddeford and Lewiston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #132 of 133 in ME | — | #111 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Lewiston Public Schools · Acadia Academy | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Biddeford Public Schools |
| High school in town | Lewiston High School | None in town | Biddeford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 14.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.