What are the schools like in Lewis, IA?

School district data for Lewis is sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

What is the median household income in Lewis?

The median household income in Lewis, IA is $34,272 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 8.4%.

What is the weather like in Lewis, IA?

Lewis has an average high temperature of 31.2°F in January and 86.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 37.1 inches and annual snowfall averages 27.3 inches.

Lewis, IA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Lewis, IA affordable or expensive?

Lewis's cost of living index is 84, where 100 represents the national average. This means Lewis is 16% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $60,900 and the median rent is $597 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Lewis, IA?

Lewis has a violent crime rate of 335.0 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1495.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Lewis, IA a Good Place to Live?

Lewis is a small town of 455 in Iowa, with a median household income of $34,272 and a 8.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 84 (US average = 100), which is 16% below the national average.

Strengths: Lewis stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Lewis is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Lewis city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 83.7

Lewis's overall cost of living index is 83.7, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Lewis costs roughly 16% less than the average American city.

Metric	Lewis, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$60,900	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$597	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	89.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$34,272	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Lewis's violent crime rate is 335.0 per 100,000 residents — 12% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

335.0 /100k

Property Crime

1495.8 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Metric	Lewis, IA	National Avg
School District	N/A	—
Elementary Schools	N/A	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	N/A	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	4.1%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	86.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Lewis sees average highs of 31.2°F in January and 86.1°F in July, with 37.1 inches of annual precipitation and 27.3 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Lewis, IA
Average High — January	31.2°F
Average High — July	86.1°F
Annual Precipitation	37.1"
Annual Snowfall	27.3"

Demographics

Metric	Lewis, IA	National Avg
Population	455	—
Median Age	63.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	8.4%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	19.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	95.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.9%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	14.7%	22.2%
65 and over	34.9%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Griswold, IA 6 mi Atlantic, IA 7 mi Marne, IA 10 mi Cumberland, IA 11 mi Elliott, IA 12 mi

ZIP Codes in Lewis

Lewis, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

51544

Lewis vs Other Cities

Lewis, IA vs Griswold, IA Lewis, IA vs Atlantic, IA Lewis, IA vs Marne, IA Lewis, IA vs Cumberland, IA Lewis, IA vs Elliott, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lewis, IA affordable or expensive?

Lewis's cost of living index is 84, where 100 is the national average. That makes Lewis roughly 16% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $60,900 and median rent is $597/month.

What is the crime rate in Lewis, IA?

Lewis's violent crime rate is 335.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1495.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Lewis?

School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.

Is Lewis, IA a good place to live?

Lewis, IA has a population of 455, a median household income of $34,272, and an unemployment rate of 8.4%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Lewis?

Lewis averages 31.2°F in January and 86.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 37.1 inches with about 27.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Lewis?

Lewis, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 51544.

What is the population of Lewis?

The population of Lewis, Iowa is 455 with a median age of 63.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Lewis?

Key numbers for living in Lewis: cost of living index 84 (100 = US average), median home $60,900, median household income $34,272, crime index 81 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Lewis side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.