The Town FilesLewistown, Illinois
City in Fulton County · population 2,041 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $102,200
- Household income
- $54,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 28 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 30
- Median age
- 46.1
Lewistown is a city of 2,041 people in Fulton County, Illinois. The median home is worth $102,200, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks hipper than 84% of Illinois towns, better for first-time buyers than 75% of Illinois towns.
How Lewistown ranks
Percentile among Illinois towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Illinois towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Lewistown is worth $102,200, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $54,000, which is more affordable than 68% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $599 a month. 66.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lewistown | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $102,200 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $599 | $960 |
| Median household income | $54,000 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 66.2% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1958 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.9% | — |
Who lives in Lewistown
| People | Lewistown | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.1 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.1% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.0% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.5% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 6.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.0% | — |
| Work from home | 4.1% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 41.1 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.1% | 90.4% |
Weather in Lewistown
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 16.4°F. About 41.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 27.9 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 35 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 133 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lewistown since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 13, 1995 about 0.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 11, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 60 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on April 4, 2023.
Severe weather in Fulton County since 1996
Fulton County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 20, 2024 | Flood | DR-4819: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Floodng |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| September 19, 2019 | Flood | DR-4461: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| May 10, 2013 | Flood | DR-4116: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Fulton County
Fulton County had 8,642 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,887 a year. Unemployment was 5.3% in 2023; in Lewistown itself the ACS puts it at 12.8%.
Public schools in Lewistown
3 public schools with 601 students, about 10.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Elem School | PK-6 | 333 | 12.8 |
| Lewistown Jr/Sr High School | 7-12 | 268 | 11.7 |
| New Horizons | Other | — | — |
Towns near Lewistown
- Cuba, IL7.0 mi · 1,184 people · home $63,900
- St. David, IL8.5 mi · 522 people · home $65,400
- Havana, IL8.7 mi · 2,963 people · home $95,300
- Canton, IL13.1 mi · 13,242 people · home $107,100
- Astoria, IL15.8 mi · 929 people · home $67,600
- Vermont, IL16.0 mi · 570 people · home $57,000
- Manito, IL19.8 mi · 1,552 people · home $112,600
- Bushnell, IL21.2 mi · 2,718 people · home $71,900
Lewistown questions
Is Lewistown, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lewistown scores better for retirees than 28% of Illinois towns and quieter than 54%. 23.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.1).
How much does a house cost in Lewistown?
The median owner-occupied home in Lewistown is valued at $102,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,000, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $599 a month.
What is the weather like in Lewistown?
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 16.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.0 inches of precipitation a year and 27.9 inches of snow.
Does Lewistown get tornadoes?
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lewistown since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 13, 1995. The typical Illinois town has had 27.
- 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)