Last checked October 29, 2026.
Lewistown, in the geographic center of Montana, has the lowest rents of any town we track: a single adult needs about $36,000 a year at current asking rents.
At a glance
| Population | 6,087 (Census ACS 2020–2024) |
| Region | Central Montana, Fergus County |
| Average 1-bedroom asking rent | $560 (Apartments.com, Aug 2026) |
| Median rent paid, Census | $523 for a 1-bedroom; $1,039 for a 2-bedroom (utilities included; 2020–2024 average) |
| Median home value, Census | $198,400 (2020–2024) |
| Median household income, Census | $48,750 (2020–2024) |
| Income needed, own 1-bedroom | $35,996 at current asking rents; $31,755 at the Census median 1-bedroom rent |
| Electric and gas | NorthWestern Energy for both |
| Resort tax | None |
| Hospital / airport | Central Montana Medical Center / nearest commercial airport in Great Falls |
Rent
| Source | 1-bedroom | 2-bedroom | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apartments.com | $560 | $764 | Aug 2026 |
The Census American Community Survey puts the median rent actually paid in Lewistown at $523 for a 1-bedroom and $1,039 for a 2-bedroom, including utilities (Census ACS 2020–2024). That’s an average over five years and includes long-time tenants, so it runs below what a new renter is quoted today.
Monthly budget, own 1-bedroom
| Rent (average 1-bedroom asking rent) | $560 |
| Electric and gas (NorthWestern Energy typical bills) | $195 |
| Car, paid off | $441 |
| Groceries, health premium, phone and internet, eating out, renters insurance, other | $1,018 |
| Total | $2,214 |
| Salary needed with 10% saved, after taxes | $35,996 ($17.31 an hour) |
Same budget as our salary calculator; the car and other lines are explained there.
Recent news
- A 30-unit apartment complex is under construction; the rental vacancy rate was 7.9%, and a local property manager didn’t expect rents to drop (Lewistown News-Argus, Aug 23, 2025).