Carey is a small town of 1,244 in Idaho, with a median household income of $50,000
and a 4.6% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Carey 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 Carey is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Carey 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: 93.0
Carey's overall cost of living index is 93.0,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Carey costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Carey, ID
National Avg
Median Home Value
$174,600
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,034
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
83.7%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$50,000
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Carey's violent crime rate is 186.8 per 100,000 residents
— 51% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
186.8 /100k
Property Crime
556.0 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Carey is served primarily by BLAINE COUNTY DISTRICT.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.0:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Carey, ID
National Avg
School District
BLAINE COUNTY DISTRICT
—
Elementary Schools
4
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
2
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.0:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
15.1%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
92.2%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Carey sees average highs of 31.8°F in January
and 86.8°F in July,
with 13.0 inches of annual precipitation
and 45.6 inches of snow per year.
Carey's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Carey roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $174,600 and median rent is $1,034/month.
Carey's violent crime rate is 186.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 556.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Carey are operated by BLAINE COUNTY DISTRICT.
The district has 4 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.0:1. 15.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Carey, ID has a population of 1,244, a median household income of $50,000, and an unemployment rate of 4.6%.
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.
Carey averages 31.8°F in January and 86.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 13.0 inches
with about 45.6 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Carey, ID is covered by 1 ZIP code: 83320.
The population of Carey, Idaho is 1,244 with a median age of 30.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Carey: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $174,600, median household income $50,000, crime index 40 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Carey side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.