Lewiston Maine Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Lewiston, ME (the Lewiston-Auburn metro area) was $821 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Lewiston was $789 in 2019. The median rent more accurately depicts rental rates in the middle of the distribution of rents and is thus preferred in the analysis below. 2020 Lewiston median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Lewiston rental vacancy rates, Lewiston rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Lewiston.
Real Gross Rent in Lewiston Maine (2019 dollars)2
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Median Gross Rent | $1,097 | +1.86% | +6.82% |
| Maine Median Gross Rent | $870 | +1.87% | +4.19% |
| Lewiston, ME Median Gross Rent | $821 | +4.19% | +7.32% |
Lewiston, ME Real Gross Rent Trends
At $821, real median gross rent in Lewiston was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. Average gross rent for Lewiston peaked in real terms in 2015 at $801 and is now $12 (1.50%) lower.
Real Gross Rent in Lewiston: Lewiston ME Median, Lewiston ME Average, Maine Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Lewiston
| Date | US Median |
Maine Median |
Lewiston, ME Median |
Lewiston, ME Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $870 | $821 | $789 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $854 | $788 | $759 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $831 | $709 | $666 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $835 | $765 | $746 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $840 | $765 | $801 |
| 2014 | $986 | $819 | $741 | $699 |
| 2013 | $953 | $800 | $727 | $785 |
| 2012 | $940 | $791 | $735 | $751 |
| 2011 | $941 | $807 | $732 | $705 |
| 2010 | $955 | $790 | $715 | $660 |
| 2009 | $960 | $823 | $729 | $712 |
| 2007 | $927 | $764 | $719 | $688 |
| 2005 | $910 | $779 | $755 | $714 |
Lewiston Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate is the fraction of homes for rent that are not occupied.3 In 2015 the rental vacancy rate for Lewiston Maine was 1.05% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Lewiston Maine
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Maine | 4.95% | -0.33% | -1.79% |
| Lewiston, ME | — | — | — |
Trends in Lewiston, ME Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Lewiston peaked in 2010 at 8.08%. Since then it has fallen by 7.03% to 1.05%. Data records for this series originated in 2005.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Lewiston ME, Maine, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Lewiston
| Date | US | Maine | Lewiston, ME |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 4.95% | — |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 5.28% | — |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 8.41% | — |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 6.74% | — |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 5.29% | 1.05% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 7.07% | — |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 7.17% | 4.66% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 6.25% | 6.53% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 7.67% | 4.26% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 8.75% | 8.08% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 7.36% | 3.18% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 8.13% | 6.76% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 7.41% | — |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Lewiston, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Lewiston, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 15.44% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Lewiston Maine Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 20.03% | -0.47% | -0.40% |
| Maine | 17.72% | -0.39% | -0.30% |
| Lewiston, ME | 15.44% | -3.25% | -2.43% |
Trends in Lewiston, ME Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Lewiston household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2009 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 19.20%. Since then it has fallen by 3.77% to 15.44%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Lewiston ME, Maine, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Lewiston Maine
| Date | US | Maine | Lewiston, ME |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 17.72% | 15.44% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 18.11% | 18.69% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 17.19% | 17.10% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 18.02% | 17.87% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 18.46% | 17.19% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 18.83% | 17.55% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 19.41% | 18.76% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 19.11% | 18.72% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 19.47% | 18.21% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 18.52% | 18.65% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 18.94% | 19.20% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 17.00% | 15.83% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 17.47% | 16.85% |
Renter Fraction in Lewiston Maine
You can calculate the renter fraction in Lewiston in at least two ways: by housing units or by population. I've gone with the housing units measure here. This measure looks at the number of renting households in Lewiston as a fraction of total Lewiston households. In 2019 35.02% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Lewiston Fraction of Renters by Household Units
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 35.89% | -0.16% | -0.99% |
| Maine | 27.81% | -0.96% | -0.32% |
| Lewiston, ME | 35.02% | -3.53% | -2.14% |
Trends in the Lewiston, ME Renter Fraction
The Lewiston household renter fraction peaked in in 2013 at 42.88% and is now 7.86% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Lewiston ME, Maine, US
History of Lewiston Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Maine | Lewiston, ME |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 27.81% | 35.02% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 28.77% | 38.55% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 26.83% | 34.34% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 28.13% | 37.16% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 29.00% | 37.03% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 28.68% | 34.51% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 29.84% | 42.88% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 28.59% | 35.54% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 29.05% | 37.11% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 27.32% | 33.35% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 27.26% | 34.58% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 26.05% | 32.88% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 28.21% | 29.83% |
1. Gross rent is defined as contract rent plus the estimated average monthly cost of utilities (electricity, gas, water, and sewer) and fuel (oil, coal, kerosene, wood, etc.). Because some rentals include utilities and others don't, gross rent is a way of normalizing the variability. ↩
2. Real dollars are calculated using the CPI-U less shelter series. ↩
3. The rental vacancy rate is computed by dividing the number of vacant units for rent by the sum of the renter-occupied units, vacant units that are for rent, and vacant units that have been rented but not yet occupied. ↩
