Arco is a small town of 749 in Idaho, with a median household income of $35,585
.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Arco stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Arco is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Arco city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 89.9
Arco's overall cost of living index is 89.9,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Arco costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Arco, ID
National Avg
Median Home Value
$149,500
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$527
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
71.0%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$35,585
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Arco's violent crime rate is 154.0 per 100,000 residents
— 59% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
154.0 /100k
Property Crime
500.6 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Arco is served primarily by BUTTE COUNTY JOINT DISTRICT.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.5:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Arco, ID
National Avg
School District
BUTTE COUNTY JOINT DISTRICT
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.5:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
14.8%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
93.6%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Arco sees average highs of 30.3°F in January
and 86.6°F in July,
with 8.8 inches of annual precipitation
and 23.8 inches of snow per year.
Arco's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Arco roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $149,500 and median rent is $527/month.
Arco's violent crime rate is 154.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 500.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Arco are operated by BUTTE COUNTY JOINT DISTRICT.
The district has 2 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.5:1. 14.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Arco, ID has a population of 749, a median household income of $35,585, and an unemployment rate of 0.0%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Arco averages 30.3°F in January and 86.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 8.8 inches
with about 23.8 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Arco, ID is covered by 1 ZIP code: 83213.
The population of Arco, Idaho is 749 with a median age of 37.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Arco: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $149,500, median household income $35,585, crime index 34 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Arco side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
