Can A Dental Assistant Afford Rent in Lewiston, ME?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 39.3% of gross income.

Lewiston rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Maine state estimate).

Lewiston median rent
$1,480/mo
Dental Assistant salary (Maine)
$45,161/yr
Rent as % of income
39.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,763, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,129/mo in rent. Lewiston's median rent of $1,480 exceeds that threshold by $351/mo, putting a dental assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A dental assistant works roughly 68.2 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a dental assistant salary

Dental assistant pay sits near the US median household income. At the national-average dental-assistant salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,214 a month in rent, which is achievable in most lower- and mid-cost metros.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Maine cities have lower median rent than Lewiston, which improves the affordability math on a dental assistant salary:

Bangor, ME
$1,477/mo (39.2% of income)
Bangor, ME
$1,460/mo (38.8% of income)
Augusta, ME
$1,458/mo (38.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Lewiston

View full rent data for Lewiston, ME

Frequently asked questions

Can a dental assistant afford rent in Lewiston, ME?

Median rent in Lewiston is $1,480 a month. A typical dental assistant in Maine earns about $45,161 a year, which makes that rent 39.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a dental assistant afford in Lewiston?

Using the 30% rule, a dental assistant salary in Maine (~$45,161/yr) supports up to $1,129 a month in rent. Lewiston's current median rent is $1,480/mo, which is $351/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a dental assistant work to cover rent in Lewiston?

At an hourly equivalent of about $22 an hour, a dental assistant in Maine works roughly 68.2 hours a month to cover Lewiston's median rent of $1,480.

Where is rent cheaper than Lewiston for a dental assistant?

Nearby Maine cities with lower median rent include Bangor ($1,477/mo), Bangor ($1,460/mo), Augusta ($1,458/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a dental assistant salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Maine state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Lewiston, ME. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.