The Town FilesLewiston, New York
Town in Niagara County · population 15,944 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $261,600
- Household income
- $78,400
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 55 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 45.6
Lewiston is a town of 15,944 people in Niagara County, New York. The median home is worth $261,600, above the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks easier by car than 82% of New York towns, better for cycling than 76% of New York towns, better for retirees than 74% of New York towns.
How Lewiston ranks
Percentile among New York towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New York towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Lewiston is worth $261,600, above the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $78,400, which is more affordable than 38% of New York towns. Median rent is $988 a month. 76.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lewiston | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $261,600 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $988 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $78,400 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 76.4% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1968 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Lewiston
| People | Lewiston | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.6 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.1% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 15.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 38.5% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.6% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 7.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.4% | — |
| Work from home | 11.1% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 20.8 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.6% | 91.1% |
Weather in Lewiston
July highs average 80.7°F and January lows 16.8°F. About 33.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 55.2 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 132 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Lewiston since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. The strongest, an F1, struck on July 26, 1969 about 6.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 26, 1969.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 17 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on September 27, 1998.
Severe weather in Niagara County since 1996
Niagara County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 15, 2023 | Snowstorm | DR-4694: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| November 20, 2022 | Winter Storm | EM-3589: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3434: Covid-19 |
| November 14, 2017 | Flood | DR-4348: Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Niagara County
Niagara County had 68,068 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,707 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Lewiston itself the ACS puts it at 3.8%.
Public schools in Lewiston
1 public school with 78 students, about 4.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| TUSCARORA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 78 | 4.1 |
Towns near Lewiston
- Ransomville, NY4.3 mi · 1,316 people · home $218,200
- Lewiston, NY4.6 mi · 2,531 people · home $238,100
- Sanborn, NY4.6 mi · 1,553 people · home $235,600
- Niagara, NY5.0 mi · 7,903 people · home $146,200
- Porter, NY5.2 mi · 6,513 people · home $226,300
- Niagara University, NY5.3 mi · 940 people · home —
- Youngstown, NY6.4 mi · 1,859 people · home $216,100
- Cambria, NY6.6 mi · 5,743 people · home $283,500
Lewiston questions
Is Lewiston, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lewiston scores better for retirees than 74% of New York towns and quieter than 44%. 26.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.6).
How much does a house cost in Lewiston?
The median owner-occupied home in Lewiston is valued at $261,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $78,400, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $988 a month.
What is the weather like in Lewiston?
July highs average 80.7°F and January lows 16.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.0 inches of precipitation a year and 55.2 inches of snow.
Does Lewiston get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Lewiston since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on July 26, 1969. The typical New York town has had 5.
- 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)