What are the schools like in Lewiston, ME?

Lewiston is served primarily by Lewiston Public Schools. The district operates 5 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 11.1:1.

What is the median household income in Lewiston?

The median household income in Lewiston, ME is $54,317 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.6%.

What is the weather like in Lewiston, ME?

Lewiston has an average high temperature of 28.4°F in January and 79.9°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 45.2 inches and annual snowfall averages 65.1 inches.

Lewiston, ME Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Lewiston, ME affordable or expensive?

Lewiston's cost of living index is 95, where 100 represents the national average. This means Lewiston is 5% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $189,500 and the median rent is $903 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Lewiston, ME?

Lewiston has a violent crime rate of 244.5 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1529.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Lewiston, ME a Good Place to Live?

Lewiston is a small city of 37,577 in Maine, with a median household income of $54,317 and a 5.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 95 (US average = 100), which is 5% below the national average.

Strengths: Lewiston stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Lewiston is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Lewiston city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 95.3

Lewiston's overall cost of living index is 95.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Lewiston costs roughly 5% less than the average American city.

Metric	Lewiston, ME	National Avg
Median Home Value	$189,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$903	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	49.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$54,317	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Lewiston's violent crime rate is 244.5 per 100,000 residents — 36% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

244.5 /100k

Property Crime

1529.0 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Lewiston is served primarily by Lewiston Public Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.1:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Lewiston, ME	National Avg
School District	Lewiston Public Schools	—
Elementary Schools	5	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	11.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	21.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	88.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Lewiston sees average highs of 28.4°F in January and 79.9°F in July, with 45.2 inches of annual precipitation and 65.1 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Lewiston, ME
Average High — January	28.4°F
Average High — July	79.9°F
Annual Precipitation	45.2"
Annual Snowfall	65.1"

Demographics

Metric	Lewiston, ME	National Avg
Population	37,577	—
Median Age	39.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	20.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	80.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	10.9%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.9%	18.9%
Asian	2.2%	6.3%
Under 18	20.0%	22.2%
65 and over	18.6%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Auburn, ME 4 mi Sabattus, ME 4 mi Lisbon, ME 5 mi Greene, ME 7 mi Lisbon Falls, ME 8 mi

ZIP Codes in Lewiston

Lewiston, ME is covered by 1 ZIP code:

04240

Lewiston vs Other Cities

Lewiston, ME vs Auburn, ME Lewiston, ME vs Sabattus, ME Lewiston, ME vs Lisbon, ME Lewiston, ME vs Greene, ME Lewiston, ME vs Lisbon Falls, ME

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lewiston, ME affordable or expensive?

Lewiston's cost of living index is 95, where 100 is the national average. That makes Lewiston roughly 5% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $189,500 and median rent is $903/month.

What is the crime rate in Lewiston, ME?

Lewiston's violent crime rate is 244.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1529.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Lewiston?

Public schools in Lewiston are operated by Lewiston Public Schools. The district has 5 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.1:1. 21.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Lewiston, ME a good place to live?

Lewiston, ME has a population of 37,577, a median household income of $54,317, and an unemployment rate of 5.6%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Lewiston?

Lewiston averages 28.4°F in January and 79.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 45.2 inches with about 65.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Lewiston?

Lewiston, ME is covered by 1 ZIP code: 04240.

What is the population of Lewiston?

The population of Lewiston, Maine is 37,577 with a median age of 39.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Lewiston?

Key numbers for living in Lewiston: cost of living index 95 (100 = US average), median home $189,500, median household income $54,317, crime index 68 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Lewiston side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.