Living Cost Compare
Dover

Delaware

$1,270/mo est.

vs
Lewiston

Maine

$1,070/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,270 in Dover, DE versus $1,070 in Lewiston, ME. Overall, Lewiston, ME is roughly 16% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Dover, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,336 in Dover, DE and $56,558 in Lewiston, ME — about 3% higher in Dover, DE. Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax; Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Dover, DE
Lewiston, ME

Rent

Studio
$993
$559
+44% in Dover, DE
1 Bedroom
$1,047
$749
+28% in Dover, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,185
$1,047
+12% in Dover, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,634
$1,209
+26% in Dover, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$248,500
$214,200
+14% in Dover, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$58,336
$56,558
+3% in Dover, DE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,690
$49,540
+6% in Lewiston, ME

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.1 yr
37.8 yr
+2.7 yr in Lewiston, ME
Homeownership
47.0%
50.3%
+3.3 pp in Lewiston, ME
Bachelor's+ (25+)
27.1%
21.7%
+5.4 pp in Dover, DE
Avg Commute
24.0 min
20.7 min
+3.3 min in Dover, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,025.3
244.5
+76% in Dover, DE
Property Crime
6,159.1
1,616.5
+74% in Dover, DE

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
56.9°F
45.8°F
+11.1°F in Dover, DE
Annual Precipitation
46.0 in
51.1 in
+5.1 in in Lewiston, ME

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.3
29.6
+53% in Lewiston, ME
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.73
$31.62
+6% in Lewiston, ME

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Lewiston, ME
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.92
+10% in Lewiston, ME
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Dover, DE
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.90
+7% in Lewiston, ME
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.19
+15% in Lewiston, ME
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in Lewiston, ME

Average prices — South vs Northeast (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (DE / ME)
None
5.5%
+5.5 pp in ME
Income Tax (top rate)
6.60%
7.15%
+0.6 pp in ME

Dover vs Lewiston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Dover or Lewiston?
Lewiston, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Dover, DE's $1,270, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Dover than in Lewiston?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Dover versus $30,000 in Lewiston.
Which has lower taxes, Dover or Lewiston?
Dover is taxed under Delaware's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax); Lewiston under Maine's (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).