The Town FilesLewistown, Pennsylvania
Borough in Mifflin County · population 8,579 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $98,500
- Household income
- $40,236
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 26 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 37.0
Lewistown is a borough of 8,579 people in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $98,500, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks more walkable than 95% of Pennsylvania towns, more vibrant than 94% of Pennsylvania towns, hipper than 89% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Lewistown ranks
Percentile among Pennsylvania towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Pennsylvania towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Lewistown is worth $98,500, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $40,236, which is more affordable than 75% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $797 a month. 39.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lewistown | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $98,500 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $797 | $996 |
| Median household income | $40,236 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 39.6% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.4% | — |
Who lives in Lewistown
| People | Lewistown | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.0 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.1% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 26.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.5% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 35.7% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 8.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.3% | — |
| Work from home | 7.8% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 21.6 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.7% | 89.0% |
Weather in Lewistown
July highs average 85.3°F and January lows 21.0°F. About 42.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 26.2 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 122 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lewistown since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 19, 2019 about 0.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 19, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 12 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 16, 2022.
Severe weather in Mifflin County since 1996
Mifflin County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 30, 2020 | Biological | DR-4506: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3441: Covid-19 |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
| September 12, 2011 | Flood | DR-4030: Tropical Storm Lee |
| September 8, 2011 | Flood | EM-3340: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Lee |
Jobs and pay in Mifflin County
Mifflin County had 16,979 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,273 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Lewistown itself the ACS puts it at 4.3%.
Public schools in Lewistown
7 public schools with 3,738 students, about 11.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mifflin Co HS | 10-12 | 1,066 | 14.2 |
| Mifflin Co MS | 6-7 | 717 | 14.1 |
| Mifflin Co JHS | 8-9 | 716 | 12.3 |
| Lewistown Intrmd Sch | 4-5 | 507 | 12.7 |
| Lewistown El Sch | K-3 | 452 | 8.9 |
| East Derry El Sch | K-3 | 279 | 11.6 |
| Mifflin County Academy of Science and Technology | 9-12 | 1 | 0.1 |
Towns near Lewistown
- Granville, PA2.5 mi · 4,629 people · home $160,000
- Derry, PA3.3 mi · 7,212 people · home $156,100
- Brown, PA6.6 mi · 4,112 people · home $197,600
- Union, PA7.9 mi · 3,653 people · home $190,100
- Fermanagh, PA9.6 mi · 2,866 people · home $256,800
- Decatur, PA10.8 mi · 2,968 people · home $164,100
- Armagh, PA12.2 mi · 4,018 people · home $140,800
- Walker, PA14.1 mi · 2,790 people · home $206,900
Lewistown questions
Is Lewistown, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lewistown scores better for retirees than 2% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 6%. 16.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.0).
How much does a house cost in Lewistown?
The median owner-occupied home in Lewistown is valued at $98,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $40,236, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $797 a month.
What is the weather like in Lewistown?
July highs average 85.3°F and January lows 21.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.1 inches of precipitation a year and 26.2 inches of snow.
Does Lewistown get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lewistown since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 19, 2019. The typical Pennsylvania town has had 10.
- 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)