Living Cost Compare
Huntington

West Virginia

$940/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 $940 in Huntington, WV versus $1,070 in Lewiston, ME. Overall, Huntington, WV is roughly 12% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Lewiston, ME, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $43,146 in Huntington, WV and $56,558 in Lewiston, ME — about 24% higher in Lewiston, ME. West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax; Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$762
$559
+27% in Huntington, WV
1 Bedroom
$758
$749
+1% in Huntington, WV
2 Bedroom
$881
$1,047
+19% in Lewiston, ME
3 Bedroom
$1,121
$1,209
+8% in Lewiston, ME

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$118,800
$214,200
+80% in Lewiston, ME

Income

Median Household Income
$43,146
$56,558
+31% in Lewiston, ME
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$44,600
$49,540
+11% in Lewiston, ME

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.9 yr
37.8 yr
+2.9 yr in Lewiston, ME
Homeownership
52.5%
50.3%
+2.2 pp in Huntington, WV
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.5%
21.7%
+12.8 pp in Huntington, WV
Avg Commute
18.6 min
20.7 min
+2.1 min in Lewiston, ME

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
800.3
244.5
+69% in Huntington, WV
Property Crime
3,617.9
1,616.5
+55% in Huntington, WV

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
55.7°F
45.8°F
+9.9°F in Huntington, WV
Annual Precipitation
42.6 in
51.1 in
+8.5 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)
15.4
29.6
+92% in Lewiston, ME
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.68
$31.62
+28% 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 Huntington, WV
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 (WV / ME)
6%
5.5%
+0.5 pp in WV
Income Tax (top rate)
4.82%
7.15%
+2.3 pp in ME

Huntington vs Lewiston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Huntington or Lewiston?
Huntington, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Lewiston, ME's $1,070, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Huntington than in Lewiston?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year in Huntington versus $30,000 in Lewiston.
Which has lower taxes, Huntington or Lewiston?
Huntington is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% 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).