1st Advantage MortgageAbout 80% of Lewis County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $68,182. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in New York before sharing details.
On this page
- Who lives in Lewis County
- How Lewis County residents earn a living
- Income in Lewis County compared with New York
- What it costs to live in Lewis County
- The communities that make up Lewis County
- Regional comparison for Lewis County
- Debt-to-income at Lewis County's medians
- Before borrowing in Lewis County
- More Lewis County figures
- Checklist for Lewis County applicants
- Checking a lender's license in New York
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Lewis County
With an estimated 26,607 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Lewis County ranks 59th of 62 in New York for population. Land area is 1,276 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 21 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Lewis County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 8 places in the county (8 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Lowville, with about 3,404 residents, or 13% of the county.
How Lewis County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Lewis County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 25% of workers, followed by manufacturing (13%). Compared with New York, the county leans toward manufacturing (13% against 6%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 5.2% in Lewis County. About 76% drive to work alone and 16% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 5.4% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Lewis County workers | vs New York |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.7% | -4.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.9% | +7.1 pts |
| Construction | 10.6% | +4.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.1% | +0.5 pts |
| Public administration | 8.8% | +4.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.3% | -1.9 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Income in Lewis County compared with New York
Half of Lewis County households take in less than $68,182 a year and half take in more, 21% below the New York median of $85,974.
| Household income | Lewis County | vs New York |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 23.6% | +1.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 47.1% | +13.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.6% | -2.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.7% | -12.4 pts |
Some 24% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 29% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 12.3% of Lewis County residents in poverty, against 14.0% across New York. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
What it costs to live in Lewis County
A typical Lewis County rental runs $837 a month including utilities, which is 48% below New York. By the Census definition, 42% of Lewis County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $166,100, or 2.4 years of median income. Owners occupy 80% of homes.
| Cost | Lewis County | New York figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $837/mo | $1,621/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $166,100 | $423,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 80% | 54% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 42% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 33% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 11.0% | 2.1% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Lewis County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
The communities that make up Lewis County
The table lists the 8 largest of 8 Census places in Lewis County, by population. Together all 8 hold about 7,019 people, so roughly 74% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $45,833 in Port Leyden to $68,450 in Lowville. Rent is cheapest in Lyons Falls ($600) and steepest in Copenhagen ($972). This guide covers each of the 8 places and the rural areas around them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowville | village | 3,404 | $68,450 | $765 | 2 mi |
| Port Leyden | village | 659 | $45,833 | $703 | 15 mi |
| Croghan | village | 642 | $51,731 | $721 | 8 mi |
| Copenhagen | village | 635 | $58,977 | $972 | 14 mi |
| Lyons Falls | village | 569 | $59,000 | $600 | 12 mi |
| Castorland | village | 481 | $57,222 | $853 | 8 mi |
| Constableville | village | 332 | $68,750 | $811 | 15 mi |
| Turin | village | 297 | $103,246 | n/a | 11 mi |
Regional comparison for Lewis County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (33 to 52 miles). 4 of the six report a higher median household income than Lewis County; Oneida County is highest at $70,154 and St. Lawrence County lowest at $62,850.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lewis County | - | $68,182 | $837/mo | 80% |
| Herkimer County, NY | 33 mi | $68,515 | $823/mo | 77% |
| Jefferson County, NY | 34 mi | $66,301 | $1,213/mo | 55% |
| Oneida County, NY | 37 mi | $70,154 | $944/mo | 68% |
| Oswego County, NY | 44 mi | $69,183 | $967/mo | 73% |
| Hamilton County, NY | 48 mi | $68,835 | $912/mo | 82% |
| St. Lawrence County, NY | 52 mi | $62,850 | $818/mo | 72% |
Debt-to-income at Lewis County's medians
Lewis County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Monthly gross at the median, Lewis County: $5,682
- Less median rent of $837, which is 15% of it
- $1,208: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,606 a month
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Before borrowing in Lewis County
Based on the Lewis County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
More Lewis County figures
College graduates make up 19% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 5.7%, against 5.1% for New York.
| Lewis County | New York | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.9 | 39.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.6% | 40.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.7% | 12.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.7% | 5.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.4% | 29.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.5% | 14.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.3% | 14.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.2% | 6.4% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Lewis County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 38.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 31.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.9% |
| 60+ min | 8.4% |
Checklist for Lewis County applicants
Before you apply, wherever you live in Lewis County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- A New York license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Checking a lender's license in New York
Lewis County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the New York State Department of Financial Services. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. See the New York state guide for the statewide picture.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the New York guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Lewis County earn?
The median is $68,182; 29% earn $100,000 or more and 24% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Lewis County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $837 a month; 42% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I own my home in Lewis County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 80% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
I live in a small Lewis County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Lowville, Port Leyden, Croghan, Copenhagen, Lyons Falls and 3 more.
Is the fit check different in Lewis County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.