The Town FilesLewistown, Montana
City in Fergus County · population 5,952 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $198,400
- Household income
- $48,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 101 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 44.7
Lewistown is a city of 5,952 people in Fergus County, Montana. The median home is worth $198,400, below the typical Montana town ($249,800). It ranks more walkable than 97% of Montana towns, better for cycling than 97% of Montana towns, hipper than 94% of Montana towns.
How Lewistown ranks
Percentile among Montana towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Montana towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Lewistown is worth $198,400, below the typical Montana town ($249,800). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $48,750, which is more affordable than 55% of Montana towns. Median rent is $1,007 a month. 56.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lewistown | Typical Montana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $198,400 | $249,800 |
| Median rent | $1,007 | $893 |
| Median household income | $48,750 | $63,249 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 4.2× |
| Homeownership | 56.1% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 1954 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.8% | — |
Who lives in Lewistown
| People | Lewistown | Typical Montana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.7 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.1% | 19.6% |
| Under 18 | 21.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.7% | 25.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.9% | 10.9% |
| Veterans | 16.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.4% | — |
| Work from home | 7.2% | 8.5% |
| Average commute | 12.7 min | 19.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.6% | 86.6% |
Weather in Lewistown
July highs average 81.6°F and January lows 12.9°F. About 17.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 101.3 inches of snow (typical Montana town: 44.0 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 184 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lewistown since 1950, compared with 1 for the typical Montana town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on August 14, 1999 about 2.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 28, 2005.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 29 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 2, 2007.
Severe weather in Fergus County since 1996
Fergus County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 18, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4801: Severe Winter Storm And Flooding |
| October 11, 2023 | Flood | DR-4745: Flooding |
| March 31, 2020 | Biological | DR-4508: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3476: Covid-19 |
| July 10, 2013 | Flood | DR-4127: Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Fergus County
Fergus County had 4,664 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,764 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Lewistown itself the ACS puts it at 7%.
Public schools in Lewistown
7 public schools with 1,234 students, about 14.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fergus High School | 9-12 | 355 | 14.8 |
| Highland Park School | 2-4 | 283 | 15.7 |
| Lewis & Clark School | 5-6 | 204 | 17.0 |
| Lewistown 7-8 | 7-8 | 195 | 13.9 |
| Garfield School | PK-1 | 188 | 11.1 |
| King Colony School | PK-8 | 7 | 7.0 |
| Spring Creek Colony Schl | PK-8 | 2 | 2.0 |
Lewistown questions
Is Lewistown, Montana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lewistown scores better for retirees than 48% of Montana towns and quieter than 17%. 25.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.7).
How much does a house cost in Lewistown?
The median owner-occupied home in Lewistown is valued at $198,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $48,750, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $1,007 a month.
What is the weather like in Lewistown?
July highs average 81.6°F and January lows 12.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 17.2 inches of precipitation a year and 101.3 inches of snow.
Does Lewistown get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lewistown since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on August 14, 1999. The typical Montana town has had 1.
- 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)