Residential comparison · 13 facts
Lewiston, ME vs South Portland, ME
Compare the housing, tax, cost, income, safety, school, and climate facts that are available for both places. The table shows the numbers without declaring one city universally better.
A household earning $85,000 in Lewiston needs about $94,500 in South Portland to keep the same lifestyle.
Coming from South Portland, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $75,500 in Lewiston.
A few differences
- South Portland is higher on median household income ($86,838 vs $55,393).
- Lewiston is lower on cost of living index (88 vs 114).
- Lewiston is lower on 2-bedroom rent ($1,106/mo vs $2,087/mo).
Lewiston vs South Portland · facet by facet
| Facet | Lewiston, ME | South Portland, ME |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $235,100 | $441,200 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $1,106/mo | $2,087/mo |
| Property tax rate | 1.24% | 1.24% |
| State & local income tax | 3.85% | 3.85% |
| Sales tax | 5.5% | 5.5% |
| Cost of living index | 88 | 114 |
| Groceries index | 103 | 103 |
| Utilities | $200/mo | $200/mo |
| Median household income | $55,393 | $86,838 |
| Unemployment rate | 3.1% | 3.1% |
| Crime index | 22/100 | 22/100 |
| School rating | 6.5/10 | 6.5/10 |
| Sunny days / year | 200 days | 200 days |
Data: Census ACS 2024 · BLS · Tax Foundation 2024 brackets · HUD/Zillow · NOAA 1991–2020 · FEMA NRI · Values are shown as reported; no universal winner is implied.
Full profiles: Lewiston, ME · South Portland, ME
Questions & answers
- Is Lewiston cheaper than South Portland?
- Lewiston has the lower day-to-day cost index (88 vs 114 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
- What household income in South Portland equals $85,000 in Lewiston?
- A household earning $85,000 in Lewiston needs about $94,500 in South Portland to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of South Portland lifestyle costs about $75,500 in Lewiston.