@doschicos Thank you for the Yankee article! (Interesting comments on the article as well.) I’m a Bates alum and my son is headed there as a freshman in the fall. Lewiston is such an interesting city, full of surprises! When I was there, many people spoke French - a vestige of the days when French-Canadian immigrants came to work in the mills.
Here’s an article about how the French language is bringing the different communities together (Franco-American and Francophone African). Note the comments by Mary Rice-DeFosse, French Professor at Bates. http://www.npr.org/2017/03/27/521648929/in-maine-a-common-language-connects-french-canadians-african-immigrants
I can’t comment on Hamilton since I’ve never been there. I just know it’s got a great reputation. OP should go with his/her gut and not overanalyze! Good luck!