The Town FilesLewiston, Idaho
City in Nez Perce County · population 34,203 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $333,700
- Household income
- $72,197
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 13 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 39.8
Lewiston is a city of 34,203 people in Nez Perce County, Idaho. The median home is worth $333,700, above the typical Idaho town ($291,900). It ranks more walkable than 89% of Idaho towns, more vibrant than 88% of Idaho towns, hipper than 85% of Idaho towns.
How Lewiston ranks
Percentile among Idaho towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Idaho towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Lewiston is worth $333,700, above the typical Idaho town ($291,900). Homes cost about 4.6 times the median household income of $72,197, which is more affordable than 45% of Idaho towns. Median rent is $1,027 a month. 67.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lewiston | Typical Idaho town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $333,700 | $291,900 |
| Median rent | $1,027 | $1,029 |
| Median household income | $72,197 | $66,924 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.6× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 67.5% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.0% | — |
Who lives in Lewiston
| People | Lewiston | Typical Idaho town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.8 | 36.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.6% | 16.5% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.5% | 21.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.5% | 11.4% |
| Veterans | 8.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.8% | — |
| Work from home | 9.8% | 8.4% |
| Average commute | 15.3 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.1% | 91.2% |
Weather in Lewiston
July highs average 90.8°F and January lows 30.3°F. About 12.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 12.7 inches of snow (typical Idaho town: 38.8 in). Expect about 44 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 80 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lewiston since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Idaho town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 8, 1962 about 9.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 31, 1997.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 27, 1970.
Severe weather in Nez Perce County since 1996
Nez Perce County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4917: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| April 7, 2026 | Straight-Line Winds | DR-4905: Straight-Line Winds |
| July 26, 2024 | Fire | FM-5520: Gwen Fire |
| July 16, 2024 | Fire | FM-5510: Texas Fire |
| August 13, 2021 | Fire | FM-5407: Bedrock Fire |
Jobs and pay in Nez Perce County
Nez Perce County had 21,969 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,589 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Lewiston itself the ACS puts it at 2.5%.
Public schools in Lewiston
15 public schools with 4,663 students, about 15.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEWISTON HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,339 | 17.6 |
| JENIFER MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 552 | 14.5 |
| SACAJAWEA MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 546 | 14.8 |
| CENTENNIAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 353 | 15.3 |
| WHITMAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 325 | 14.8 |
| CAMELOT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 320 | 15.2 |
| MCSORLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 277 | 14.6 |
| ORCHARDS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 268 | 15.8 |
| MCGHEE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 247 | 14.5 |
| WEBSTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 229 | 13.5 |
| PINECREST ACADEMY OF LEWISTON (charter) | K-5 | 113 | 16.1 |
| TAMMANY HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 92 | 13.1 |
Towns near Lewiston
- Clarkston, WA3.1 mi · 7,161 people · home $253,500
- West Clarkston-Highland, WA3.4 mi · 5,488 people · home $282,500
- Clarkston Heights-Vineland, WA4.9 mi · 7,275 people · home $385,900
- Moscow, ID23.3 mi · 25,435 people · home $376,400
- Pullman, WA24.9 mi · 32,901 people · home $424,800
Lewiston questions
Is Lewiston, Idaho a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lewiston scores better for retirees than 52% of Idaho towns and quieter than 20%. 20.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.8).
How much does a house cost in Lewiston?
The median owner-occupied home in Lewiston is valued at $333,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $72,197, so homes cost about 4.6 times income. Median rent is $1,027 a month.
What is the weather like in Lewiston?
July highs average 90.8°F and January lows 30.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 12.9 inches of precipitation a year and 12.7 inches of snow.
Does Lewiston get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lewiston since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 8, 1962. The typical Idaho town has had 2.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)