Lewiston, ME
Census place 2338740 · pop 38,324
Maine's second-largest city, a Franco-American mill town built on the Androscoggin River's waterpower.
Source ↗Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities
21.5% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities
18.8% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities
86.3% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities
51.2% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities
20.0% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities
$55,393 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities
30.1% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities
22.6% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities
37.8% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities
Gini 0.45 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities
11.1% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities
1.23% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median 964/100k · worse than most cities
1299 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 152/100k · better than most cities
188 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities
$235,100 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities
$1,552/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).
U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities
3.3% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities
+6.2% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities
21 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities
67/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 1 days · better than most cities
0 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 42 AQI · better than most cities
31 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
Frequently asked
- Is Lewiston, ME a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Lewiston scores 48/100 — a D− (Rough) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 22 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is air quality (aqi) and its weakest is poor mental health. Maine overall ranks #13 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
- How safe is Lewiston, ME?
- Lewiston reports 188 violent crimes per 100k and 1299 property crimes per 100k — better than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
- Is Lewiston, ME expensive to live in?
- Lewiston has a median home value of $235,100 and typical rent around $1,552/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Lewiston, ME?
- Its weakest measured area is poor mental health (21.5%) — 3/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is Lewiston, ME best at?
- Its strongest measured area is air quality (aqi) (31 AQI) — 93/100, better than most U.S. cities. (A county-level figure.) Fun fact: Maine's second-largest city, a Franco-American mill town built on the Androscoggin River's waterpower.
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.