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Living in
Lewiston.
About
Life in Lewiston
If you're considering Lewiston, understand that you're moving to a genuinely affordable New England city with real stability. Housing costs are refreshingly low compared to regional peers—median home values around $235,100 and median rent near $986—which means your money actually stretches here. The job market is solid with a 3.9% unemployment rate, and healthcare and education jobs anchor the local economy alongside growing distribution and financial services sectors.
Lewiston at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
20.0%
Foreign-Born
11.5%
Broadband Internet
86.3%
of households
Population Growth
+4.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics11.5% foreign-born, most often from Other Eastern Africa
Who lives in Lewiston: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Lewiston, the largest foreign-born group is from Other Eastern Africa (20.3%), and 8.5% of residents speak French/Haitian at home.
Under 18
20.6%
of residents
65 and Older
18.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
24.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
39.0%
of households
Married Couples
35.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.20
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 13% below ME average
Rent, home values, and income in Lewiston
In Lewiston, rent runs 13% below the ME average, and home values are 21% below the ME average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
49.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
26.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
94.7
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,899
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
51.2%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1957
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.9%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $295,775 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.5 pts above ME average
Unemployment in Lewiston
Unemployment in Lewiston is 0.5 percentage points higher than the ME average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Lewiston Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute21 min avg
How Lewiston residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Lewiston, most residents drive alone to work (67%), and 72% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 26 mi
Augusta State Airport (AUG)
Regional airport · few flights4,327 passengers boarded in 2025
- 126 mi
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Major hub21.0M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 27% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Lewiston runs 27% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
239.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,704
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Lewiston Police Department
Natural DisastersWinter Storm most common — 7 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
59.1 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Androscoggin County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Androscoggin County, which includes Lewiston, the most common type is winter storm, with 7 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 7 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2024 | 10 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2023 | 17 | Winter Storm | $2.4M |
| 2022 | 11 | Winter Storm | $32,000 |
| 2021 | 4 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 14 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2019 | 7 | Heavy Snow | None reported |
| 2018 | 11 | Heavy Snow | $25,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Androscoggin County, county-wide
Air Quality34 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Androscoggin County, which includes Lewiston, is typically good — 311 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
34
Good Days
311
per year
Moderate Days
52
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Androscoggin County, county-wide
Climate78°F summers, 15°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Lewiston has mild summers (avg high 78°F) and very cold winters (avg low 15°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
53°/34°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
78°/59°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
58°/42°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
31°/15°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
45.2"
Annual Snowfall
65.1"
Hot Days/Year
11
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
141
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
120
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 28°F | 12°F | 3.28" |
| Feb | 32°F | 14°F | 3.24" |
| Mar | 40°F | 23°F | 3.53" |
| Apr | 53°F | 35°F | 4.04" |
| May | 65°F | 46°F | 3.18" |
| Jun | 74°F | 56°F | 4.28" |
| Jul | 80°F | 62°F | 3.51" |
| Aug | 79°F | 60°F | 3.36" |
| Sep | 70°F | 52°F | 3.74" |
| Oct | 58°F | 41°F | 4.90" |
| Nov | 45°F | 31°F | 3.94" |
| Dec | 34°F | 20°F | 4.18" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Lewiston
Lewiston has 2 hospitals, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
4.5%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Central Maine Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
St Mary's Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education11.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Lewiston
Lewiston's student/teacher ratio is 11.5:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 22.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
9
within city limits
Private Schools
4
within city limits
College Degree Rate
22.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Lewiston
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,760 students · in-state tuition $70,146 · 92% graduate · median earnings $98,373 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Central Maine Community College
4.5 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 2,952 students · in-state tuition $4,140 · 33% graduate · median earnings $45,995 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Frances Perkins National Monument, 31 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Lewiston
Lewiston has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Frances Perkins National Monument (31 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Frances Perkins National Monument
National Monument
31 mi awayAcadia National Park
National Park
98 mi awayPublic Libraries in Lewiston
Lewiston Public Library
200 Lisbon Street, Lewiston
Cities Near Lewiston
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Lewiston?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Lewiston FAQ
Is Lewiston, Maine affordable?⌄
Lewiston's median rent is $986/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $55,393/year. Median home value is $235,100.
Is Lewiston, Maine safe?⌄
Lewiston's violent crime rate was 240 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1704 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Lewiston, Maine?⌄
Lewiston has an unemployment rate of 3.9%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Lewiston, Maine?⌄
The cost of living in Lewiston is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $986/month and median household income is $55,393/year. The median home value is $235,100. About 49% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Lewiston, Maine?⌄
The average commute in Lewiston is 21 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from