Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Lewistown, Montana
A $160,000 home here costs
$1,410per 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 $60,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $872. The real number is $537 higher every month, 62% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Fergus 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.
Lewistown against Fergus County and Montana
| Measure | Lewistown | Fergus County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $159,500 | $202,700 |
| Median property tax | $1,772 | $1,709 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.111% | 0.843% |
| Median gross rent | $896 | $868 |
| Population | 6,028 | 11,581 |
The weather behind that power bill
Lewistown sits in Fergus County, which averages a high of 81.6°F in its hottest month and a low of 12.9°F in its coldest, with 17.17" of precipitation a year and 47% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 229 cooling and 8,177 heating degree days, which is what sets the $133 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Fergus County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Fergus County
No other places of this size are published in Fergus County.
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Lewistown 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 Lewistown every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Lewistown I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Lewistown?
A $160,000 home in Lewistown, Montana costs approximately $1,410 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $872 principal and interest, $148 property tax, $55 homeowners insurance, $201 utilities and $133 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Lewistown?
Lewistown has an effective property tax rate of 1.111%, based on a median home value of $159,500 and median real estate taxes of $1,772. That is higher than the Fergus County average of 0.843%.
What is the average home price in Lewistown?
The median owner-occupied home value in Lewistown, Montana is $159,500, against $202,700 across Fergus County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Lewistown?
Median gross rent in Lewistown is $896 a month, against $1,410 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 Lewistown?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Lewistown, Montana at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $60,500 a year. That covers the full $1,410 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Lewistown, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Montana.
- 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.