Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Lewiston, Idaho
A $291,000 home here costs
$2,303per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.24% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $98,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,587. The real number is $717 higher every month, 45% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Nez Perce County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Lewiston against Nez Perce County and Idaho
| Measure | Lewiston | Nez Perce County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $290,900 | $291,300 |
| Median property tax | $2,679 | $2,529 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.921% | 0.868% |
| Median gross rent | $938 | $936 |
| Population | 34,471 | 42,477 |
The weather behind that power bill
Lewiston sits in Nez Perce County, which averages a high of 90.8°F in its hottest month and a low of 29.5°F in its coldest, with 12.87" of precipitation a year and 34% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 913 cooling and 4,980 heating degree days, which is what sets the $126 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Nez Perce County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Nez Perce County
Full Nez Perce County cost breakdown · Every county in Idaho
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Lewiston averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Lewiston every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Lewiston I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Lewiston?
A $291,000 home in Lewiston, Idaho costs approximately $2,303 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,587 principal and interest, $223 property tax, $57 homeowners insurance, $194 utilities and $243 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Lewiston?
Lewiston has an effective property tax rate of 0.921%, based on a median home value of $290,900 and median real estate taxes of $2,679. That is higher than the Nez Perce County average of 0.868%.
What is the average home price in Lewiston?
The median owner-occupied home value in Lewiston, Idaho is $290,900, against $291,300 across Nez Perce County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Lewiston?
Median gross rent in Lewiston is $938 a month, against $2,303 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.
What salary do you need to buy a home in Lewiston?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Lewiston, Idaho at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $98,500 a year. That covers the full $2,303 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Lewiston, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Idaho.
- Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
- Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
- Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.