Living Cost Compare
Lewiston

Maine

$1,070/mo est.

vs
Worcester

Massachusetts

$1,340/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 $1,340 in Worcester, MA. Overall, Lewiston, ME is roughly 20% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Worcester, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $56,558 in Lewiston, ME and $67,544 in Worcester, MA — about 16% higher in Worcester, MA. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Lewiston, ME
Worcester, MA

Rent

Studio
$559
$1,087
+94% in Worcester, MA
1 Bedroom
$749
$1,028
+37% in Worcester, MA
2 Bedroom
$1,047
$1,476
+41% in Worcester, MA
3 Bedroom
$1,209
$1,675
+39% in Worcester, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$214,200
$339,500
+58% in Worcester, MA

Income

Median Household Income
$56,558
$67,544
+19% in Worcester, MA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,540
$57,830
+17% in Worcester, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.8 yr
34.1 yr
+3.7 yr in Lewiston, ME
Homeownership
50.3%
42.4%
+7.9 pp in Lewiston, ME
Bachelor's+ (25+)
21.7%
34.1%
+12.4 pp in Worcester, MA
Avg Commute
20.7 min
25.1 min
+4.4 min in Worcester, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
244.5
640.2
+162% in Worcester, MA
Property Crime
1,616.5
1,580.3
+2% in Lewiston, ME

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
47.9°F
+2.1°F in Worcester, MA
Annual Precipitation
51.1 in
48.1 in
+3.0 in in Lewiston, ME

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$4.07/gal
+3% in Worcester, MA

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Massachusetts.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
29.6
29.6
+0% in Worcester, MA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$31.62
$30.66
+3% 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 / MA)
5.5%
6.25%
+0.8 pp in MA
Income Tax (top rate)
7.15%
9.00%
+1.8 pp in MA

Lewiston vs Worcester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Lewiston or Worcester?
Lewiston, ME is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Worcester, MA's $1,340, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Lewiston than in Worcester?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year in Lewiston versus $41,000 in Worcester.
Which has lower taxes, Lewiston or Worcester?
Lewiston is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Worcester under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% 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).