The Town FilesLewiston, Wisconsin
Town in Columbia County · population 1,262 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $244,100
- Household income
- $90,852
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 39 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 24
- Median age
- 46.8
Lewiston is a town of 1,262 people in Columbia County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $244,100, close to the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks hipper than 90% of Wisconsin towns, better transit than 89% of Wisconsin towns, better for young professionals than 80% of Wisconsin towns.
How Lewiston ranks
Percentile among Wisconsin towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Wisconsin towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Lewiston is worth $244,100, close to the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $90,852, which is more affordable than 79% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,232 a month. 95.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lewiston | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $244,100 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,232 | $951 |
| Median household income | $90,852 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 95.6% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 12.9% | — |
Who lives in Lewiston
| People | Lewiston | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.8 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.8% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.9% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.6% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 8.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.0% | — |
| Work from home | 7.8% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 28.2 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.4% | 89.1% |
Weather in Lewiston
July highs average 81.6°F and January lows 9.9°F. About 38.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 39.3 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 148 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lewiston since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on August 15, 1966 about 2.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 14, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 31 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on April 14, 2026.
Severe weather in Columbia County since 1996
Columbia County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| June 14, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1768: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 26, 2007 | Severe Storm | DR-1719: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Columbia County
Columbia County had 21,963 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,667 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Lewiston itself the ACS puts it at 1.8%.
Towns near Lewiston
- Fairfield, WI5.9 mi · 1,078 people · home $346,100
- Douglas, WI6.1 mi · 784 people · home $284,100
- Portage, WI6.1 mi · 10,581 people · home $204,900
- Newport, WI7.1 mi · 607 people · home $256,600
- Fort Winnebago, WI7.2 mi · 812 people · home $257,400
- New Haven, WI7.5 mi · 680 people · home $207,700
- Moundville, WI7.8 mi · 526 people · home $252,100
- Pacific, WI10.1 mi · 2,791 people · home $285,600
Lewiston questions
Is Lewiston, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lewiston scores better for retirees than 11% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 37%. 24.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.8).
How much does a house cost in Lewiston?
The median owner-occupied home in Lewiston is valued at $244,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $90,852, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $1,232 a month.
What is the weather like in Lewiston?
July highs average 81.6°F and January lows 9.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.3 inches of precipitation a year and 39.3 inches of snow.
Does Lewiston get tornadoes?
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lewiston since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on August 15, 1966. The typical Wisconsin town has had 15.
- 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)