City Comparison
Lewistown vs Grants Pass
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Lewistown scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Lewistown
Grants Pass
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Lewistown is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
36% lower than in Grants Pass.
Housing costs are a major driver: Lewistown's average rent is
48% lower than Grants Pass's.
| Metric | Lewistown | Grants Pass | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $750 | $1,450 | -48% |
| Groceries | $380 | $450 | -16% |
| Utilities | $175 | $400 | -56% |
| Transport | $110 | $120 | -8% |
| Healthcare | $220 | $150 | +47% |
| Monthly Total | $1,635 | $2,570 | -36% |
| Cost Index | 91 | 112 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Grants Pass offers 25% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Grants Pass delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Lewistown is estimated at
$42,000 vs $58,000 in Grants Pass.
| Metric | Lewistown | Grants Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $48,500 | $64,331 |
| Salary Needed | $42,000 | $58,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 53,297 idx | 57,438 idx |
| Household Income | $48,750 | $59,646 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Lewistown runs warmer on average — a 45°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Lewistown comes out ahead with 261 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Lewistown sees 66.4 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Lewistown | Grants Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 45.00°F | °F |
| Summer High | 75.50°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 13.20°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 23.00 in | in |
| Snowfall | 66.40 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 261 | |
| Humidity | 60.00% | 74.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Lewistown has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
2,500 minutes (42 hours) per year compared to Grants Pass.
Grants Pass scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Lewistown leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Lewistown | Grants Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 13 min | 18 min |
| Transit Score | 25.0/100 | 27.0/100 |
| Walkability | 58.0/100 | 40.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 30.00 | |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Grants Pass is the larger city
— approximately 0.2x the population of Lewistown.
From a growth perspective, Grants Pass is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Lewistown has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Lewistown | Grants Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 6,231 | 40,051 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.84% | 0.90% |
| Median Age | 44.7 | 40.8 |
| Unemployment | 4.20% | 5.60% |
| GDP | $0.6B | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Lewistown
Advantages
Median home values remain significantly lower than the national average and western Montana hubs, offering strong housing affordability.
Exceptional public safety with violent and property crime rates well below national medians.
Extremely short average commute times of roughly 13 minutes eliminate daily traffic stress.
Immediate proximity to pristine central Montana wilderness, mountains, and world-class outdoor recreation.
Access to renowned natural resources, including Big Springs and some of the purest drinking water in the world.
Drawbacks
Lower median household incomes compared to state and national averages.
Geographic isolation requires traveling significant distances to access major metropolitan airports or specialized retail.
Limited local public transit infrastructure creates absolute car dependency for residents.
Rigid winter climate with heavy seasonal snowfall demands preparedness and cold-weather adaptation.
Tight rental housing inventory can make finding immediate leasing options challenging for newcomers.
Grants Pass
Advantages
Access to world-class outdoor recreation on the Rogue River, including rafting and fishing.
More sunny days and a warmer, drier climate compared to much of western Oregon.
Housing is comparatively more affordable than larger West Coast cities and some other Oregon metros.
A growing arts and food scene in a walkable, historic downtown.
Friendly community atmosphere appealing to families and retirees.
Drawbacks
Overall crime rate is significantly higher than the national average, particularly due to property crime.
Limited high-wage job opportunities compared to larger economic centers.
Air quality can be impacted by wildfire smoke during certain seasons.
Presence of a significant homeless population in the downtown core.
High car dependency due to minimal public transportation options.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Lewistown
#158Montana, USA
64.9 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$750
Avg Salary
$48,500
Cost Index
91
Commute
13 min
Transit Score
25.0/100
Walkability
58.0/100
Sunny Days
261/yr
Avg Temp
45.00°F
Pop. Growth
0.84%
Unemployment
4.20%
Livability
75
Business
67
Grants Pass
#584Oregon, USA
45.2 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,450
Avg Salary
$64,331
Cost Index
112
Commute
18 min
Transit Score
27.0/100
Walkability
40.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.90%
Unemployment
5.60%
Livability
70
Business
60
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