Who Should NOT Move to Lewiston?

Lewiston is probably not the right fit for movers whose top priority is a genuinely low ongoing property tax bill, an unambiguously above-average crime profile, a strongly above-average high school graduation rate, or a community history free of gun-violence tragedy.

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Anyone Prioritizing a Genuinely Low Ongoing Property Tax Bill

Lewiston's real, cited city-specific effective property tax rate (~2.85%) runs nearly triple the national comparison figure this record uses consistently -- probably not the right fit for buyers whose top priority is minimizing ongoing property tax cost, even though the underlying purchase price is genuinely affordable.

Anyone Requiring an Unambiguous, Clearly-Above-Average Safety Profile

This record's own disclosed cross-source tension on crime (below-national on FBI-anchored metrics, but above most other Maine communities specifically) means Lewiston is probably not the right fit for movers who require a citywide crime profile clearly, unambiguously above national and regional comparison figures on every measure.

Families Prioritizing an Above-Average High School Graduation Rate

Lewiston High School's real, cited graduation rate (~73%) runs meaningfully below Maine's cited ~86% statewide average -- families whose top priority is a strongly above-average public high school graduation rate should research alternative Maine districts or confirm current, specific school-level data directly.

Anyone Highly Sensitive to a Community's History With Gun Violence

Lewiston is the site of the real, historic, deeply tragic October 25, 2023 mass shooting -- Maine's deadliest -- a real, disclosed part of the city's recent history this record does not omit. Movers highly sensitive to a community's history with gun violence should weigh this honestly before committing.

Key takeaways

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Last reviewed: 2026-08-28. Independent research; not financial, tax, or legal advice -- confirm current figures with a local professional before making a decision.