Lewiston-Auburn receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Lewiston-Auburn
Lynchburg
Opportunity
62 · Top 36%
vs49 · Bottom 36%
Growth
54 · Top 43%
vs47 · Bottom 44%
Climate
57 · Bottom 18%
vs75 · Top 20%
Physical resilience
85 · Top 9%
vs76 · Top 20%
Housing affordability
92 · Bottom 43%
vs95 · Top 49%
Access
45 · Bottom 9%
vs36 · Bottom 5%
Economic stability
64 · Top 34%
vs49 · Bottom 49%
Measured values
| Metric | Lewiston-Auburn | Lynchburg | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 113,423 | 263,798 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $67,873 | $68,996 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $36,085 | $35,668 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 242/sq mi | 124/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $252,800 | $239,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,010 | $991 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 67.9% | 71.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 2.9% | 4.3% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.1% | -0.3% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.4% | 31.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 14.4% | 12.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 374 | 996 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 3.3 | 3.8 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -24.9% | -11.2% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 80°F | 87°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 12°F | 26°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 41.8" | 42.8" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 81 mi | 96 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 26.1 min | 24.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 40.5 | 40.0 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Lewiston-Auburn
Elevated or high exposure: ice storm, hurricane, drought.
Lynchburg
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Lewiston-Auburn
66
Your Score
68
Area Score
Lynchburg
61
Your Score
64
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Lewiston-Auburn, ME Metro Area · Lynchburg, VA Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology