How much does it cost to rent in Lewiston, ME?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Lewiston, ME is $1,480. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Lewiston cheaper than other Maine cities?

Lewiston is among the more affordable cities in Maine, ranking #23 out of 25 cities at $1,480/mo.

When was Lewiston rent data last updated?

Lewiston rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

Is Lewiston a renter's market or a landlord's market?

Based on RentDataNow's Rent Market Meter, Lewiston is currently a renter's market. Rents are softening (up only 6.0% YoY), so renters have negotiating leverage. The meter is derived from rent-price momentum (year-over-year and month-over-month change), not inventory levels.

City Report · ME

Lewiston

Name: Average Rent Prices in Lewiston, ME
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 38,324·23rd most expensive in Maine·Lewiston rents are up 6.0% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$1,480/mo

Year-over-Year

+6.0%

Month-over-Month

-4.6%

vs US Median

-$485

Falling (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Lewiston · $1,480

More affordable than 77% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Affordability

32% of income

MODERATE

0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,480/mo, rent takes about 32% of the local median household income, slightly above the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford

$59,000/yr

Local median income

$55,393/yr

Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Lewiston's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$890

1 BR

$980

2 BR

$1,250

3 BR

$1,640

4 BR+

$1,820

Research median

$1,250/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$17,760/yr

At $1,480/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Renter's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are softening (up only 6.0% YoY), so renters have negotiating leverage.

Based on rent-price momentum (+6.0% YoY, -4.6% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Lewiston, ME is roughly split between renters and owners, has a median income below the national average, 22.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

38,324

Median income

$55,393

Median age

37.3

Renters

48.8%

Age distribution

20.6%

26.7%

22.1%

12.2%

18.3%

Under 1820.6%

18–3426.7%

35–5422.1%

55–6412.2%

65+18.3%

Gender

48.6%

51.4%

Male48.6%

Female51.4%

Race & ethnicity

77.9%

13.9%

White77.9%

Black13.9%

Hispanic3.1%

Asian1.7%

Other3.4%

Education (25+)

39.6%

29%

22.6%

No HS diploma8.9%

HS diploma39.6%

Some college29%

Bachelor's+22.6%

Housing tenure

51.2%

48.8%

Owner51.2%

Renter48.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Lewiston, ME has changed in 5 years

Income

$48,069 → $55,393

up 15.2%

Population

36,615 → 38,324

up 4.7%

Renter share

50.2% → 48.8%

-1.4 pts

Bachelor's+

21.3% → 22.6%

+1.3 pts

Median age

40.5 → 37.3

-3.2 yrs

On the earnings side, the typical household in Lewiston, ME now reports about $55,393, up from $48,069 in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 36,615 to 38,324 between 2021 and 2024, a 4.7% change.

Community

Discussions about Lewiston

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View Lewiston rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Lewiston on your salary?

At $1,480/mo, how Lewiston rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $87,866/yr · Rent = 20.2% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $62,384/yr · Rent = 28.5% income

affordable

Police Officer

Avg $71,861/yr · Rent = 24.7% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $128,442/yr · Rent = 13.8% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $164,117/yr · Rent = 10.8% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $58,413/yr · Rent = 30.4% income

stretched

Truck Driver

Avg $52,740/yr · Rent = 33.7% income

stretched

Electrician

Avg $65,007/yr · Rent = 27.3% income

affordable

By apartment size

Lewiston rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Lewiston. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Lewiston

About renting in Lewiston, ME

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Lewiston is $1,480/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $890/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,250/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $980/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,640/mo.

At 32% of local median household income ($55,393/yr), Lewiston ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 6.0% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Lewiston an affordable city for renters?

Lewiston is considered moderate for renters. At $1,480/mo, rent takes approximately 32% of the local median household income ($55,393/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Lewiston slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in Lewiston?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $59,000/year (~$28/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,480/mo in Lewiston. The local median household income is $55,393/yr, meaning the typical Lewiston household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Lewiston?

Rent in Lewiston has increased 6.0% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

How does Lewiston rent compare to other cities in Maine?

Lewiston is one of the more affordable cities in Maine for rent, ranking #23 out of 25 tracked cities at $1,480/mo.

What percentage of Lewiston residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 48.8% of Lewiston households are renters, while 51.2% are owner-occupied. Lewiston leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.