Lewis County, New York Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Lewis County is located in New York with a total population of 26,618. It is the 59th most populous county out of 62 in New York.

Age Demographics

The median age in Lewis County is 42.0 years. This is 6% higher than the state median of 39.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Lewis County is $68,329. This is 19% lower than the state median of $84,578. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 13% lower. The poverty rate stands at 12.3%. This is 11% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.7%. The unemployment rate is 5.4%. This is 12% lower than the state rate of 6.2%. The median home value is $158,000. Housing costs are 61% lower than the state median of $403,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.3x, Lewis County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 80.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 48% higher than the state average of 54.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

Lewis County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 93.9% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.7%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (93.9% vs 53.4%). The Black or African American population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 13.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.7%) is well below the state average of 19.6%. The Asian population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 8.8%.

Education

19.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 51% lower than the state rate of 39.6%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 91.4%.