Living Cost Compare
Lewiston

Maine

$1,070/mo est.

vs
New Haven

Connecticut

$1,530/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 $1,530 in New Haven, CT. Overall, Lewiston, ME is roughly 30% cheaper to live in day-to-day than New Haven, CT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $56,558 in Lewiston, ME and $53,771 in New Haven, CT — about 5% higher in Lewiston, ME. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$559
$1,159
+107% in New Haven, CT
1 Bedroom
$749
$1,275
+70% in New Haven, CT
2 Bedroom
$1,047
$1,473
+41% in New Haven, CT
3 Bedroom
$1,209
$1,636
+35% in New Haven, CT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$214,200
$249,000
+16% in New Haven, CT

Income

Median Household Income
$56,558
$53,771
+5% in Lewiston, ME
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,540
$60,060
+21% in New Haven, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.8 yr
31.9 yr
+5.9 yr in Lewiston, ME
Homeownership
50.3%
28.4%
+21.9 pp in Lewiston, ME
Bachelor's+ (25+)
21.7%
37.7%
+16.0 pp in New Haven, CT
Avg Commute
20.7 min
21.0 min
+0.3 min in New Haven, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
244.5
536.3
+119% in New Haven, CT
Property Crime
1,616.5
3,601.6
+123% in New Haven, CT

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
52.2°F
+6.4°F in New Haven, CT
Annual Precipitation
51.1 in
47.1 in
+4.0 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
24.3
+18% in Lewiston, ME
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$31.62
$23.33
+26% in Lewiston, ME

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.92
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.90
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.69
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ME / CT)
5.5%
6.35%
+0.8 pp in CT
Income Tax (top rate)
7.15%
6.99%
+0.2 pp in ME

Lewiston vs New Haven — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Lewiston or New Haven?
Lewiston, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 30% below New Haven, CT's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Lewiston than in New Haven?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year in Lewiston versus $51,000 in New Haven.
Which has lower taxes, Lewiston or New Haven?
Lewiston is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); New Haven under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).