Living Cost Compare
Lewiston

Maine

$1,070/mo est.

vs
Morgantown

West Virginia

$950/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,070 in Lewiston, ME versus $950 in Morgantown, WV. Overall, Morgantown, WV is roughly 11% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Lewiston, ME, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $56,558 in Lewiston, ME and $42,245 in Morgantown, WV — about 25% higher in Lewiston, ME. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$559
$836
+50% in Morgantown, WV
1 Bedroom
$749
$770
+3% in Morgantown, WV
2 Bedroom
$1,047
$969
+7% in Lewiston, ME
3 Bedroom
$1,209
$1,038
+14% in Lewiston, ME

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$214,200
$238,200
+11% in Morgantown, WV

Income

Median Household Income
$56,558
$42,245
+25% in Lewiston, ME
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,540
$47,350
+4% in Lewiston, ME

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.8 yr
24.0 yr
+13.8 yr in Lewiston, ME
Homeownership
50.3%
44.3%
+6.0 pp in Lewiston, ME
Bachelor's+ (25+)
21.7%
58.1%
+36.4 pp in Morgantown, WV
Avg Commute
20.7 min
17.3 min
+3.4 min in Lewiston, ME

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
244.5
216.3
+12% in Lewiston, ME
Property Crime
1,616.5
1,976.4
+22% in Morgantown, WV

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
45.8°F
53.0°F
+7.2°F in Morgantown, WV
Annual Precipitation
51.1 in
41.8 in
+9.3 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)
29.6
15.4
+48% in Lewiston, ME
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$31.62
$24.68
+22% in Lewiston, ME

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Lewiston, ME
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.75
+9% in Lewiston, ME
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Morgantown, WV
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.45
+6% in Lewiston, ME
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$1.90
+13% in Lewiston, ME
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in Lewiston, ME

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ME / WV)
5.5%
6%
+0.5 pp in WV
Income Tax (top rate)
7.15%
4.82%
+2.3 pp in ME

Lewiston vs Morgantown — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Lewiston or Morgantown?
Morgantown, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Lewiston, ME's $1,070, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Lewiston than in Morgantown?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year in Lewiston versus $31,000 in Morgantown.
Which has lower taxes, Lewiston or Morgantown?
Lewiston is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Morgantown under West Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% 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).