C+

Lewiston, NY

Source:

Affordability Score: 60/100

Population: 11,086 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Lewiston, NY aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 11,086 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of C+ (60/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $72,218, median home value of $279,900, median rent of $977 per month, and 43.7% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. These four metrics alone explain most of the variance between city dashboards.

Cross-agency feeds widen the picture beyond Census demographics. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in this county at $1,343 per month (studio $1,105, 1BR $1,139, 3BR $1,640, 4BR $1,869). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $12,844 per year, consuming 18% of the local median household income.

Reading the overall grade requires reading all seven dimensions together. The score weights Income 20%, Safety 20%, Housing 15%, Rent 15%, Education 10%, Commute 10%, and Childcare 10%, with each sub-score benchmarked against national percentiles rather than state averages — so the grade is genuinely comparable across any city in the country. Strengths visible in the raw data for Lewiston, NY include education. Unemployment currently reads 3.2% and poverty 11.5% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income C
$72,218
Median household income
Education B+
43.7%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing D
3.9x
Home value $279,900 vs income
Commute B-
21 min
Average commute time
Rent B
$1,343/mo
2BR fair market rent (22% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare D
$12,844/yr
Center-based infant care (18% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$72,218
▲ 16% vs national
Per Capita Income
$51,068
Unemployment Rate
3.2%
Poverty Rate
11.5%

Housing

Median Home Value
$279,900
▲ 2% vs national
Median Rent
$977/mo
Owner Occupied
72.2%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,343/mo
▲ 12% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$1,105
1BR
$1,139
2BR
$1,343
3BR
$1,640
4BR
$1,869

Safety

Violent Crime Rate
Data Source
FBI UCR (county-level)

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
43.7%
▲ 14 ppt vs national
High School+
64.0%
Median Age
53.0
Avg. Commute
21 min
▼ 5 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$12,844/yr
18% of income
Toddler (Center)
$11,960/yr
Preschool (Center)
$10,400/yr
School-Age (Center)
$10,088/yr

What This Means

Lewiston, NY receives an overall affordability grade of C+ (60/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 11,086. This area performs well in education. Data was unavailable for safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Lewiston, NY affordable?
Lewiston, NY receives an overall affordability grade of C+ (60/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $72,218. Median home value is $279,900.
What is the cost of living in Lewiston?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $977/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,343/mo. Infant childcare $12,844/yr. Median home value $279,900.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The score evaluates 7 dimensions weighted by importance: Income (20%), Safety (20%), Housing (15%), Rent (15%), Education (10%), Commute (10%), and Childcare (10%). Each metric is compared against national percentile benchmarks from Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data.

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report. Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Verify with HUD →