Below Average CostVery SafeLAKE PEND OREILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT
Median Income
$47,411
household / year
Median Home Value
$157,800
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$1,080
gross / month
Cost of Living
93
national avg = 100
Is Clark Fork, ID a Good Place to Live?
Clark Fork is a small town of 963 in Idaho, with a median household income of $47,411
and a 12.9% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Clark Fork stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Clark Fork is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Clark Fork 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: 92.8
Clark Fork's overall cost of living index is 92.8,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Clark Fork costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Clark Fork, ID
National Avg
Median Home Value
$157,800
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,080
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
58.3%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$47,411
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Clark Fork's violent crime rate is 98.4 per 100,000 residents
— 74% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
98.4 /100k
Property Crime
824.2 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Clark Fork is served primarily by LAKE PEND OREILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.9:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Clark Fork, ID
National Avg
School District
LAKE PEND OREILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT
—
Elementary Schools
8
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
4
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.9:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
9.0%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
86.4%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Clark Fork sees average highs of 34.3°F in January
and 81.4°F in July,
with 58.2 inches of annual precipitation
and 84.3 inches of snow per year.
Clark Fork's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Clark Fork roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $157,800 and median rent is $1,080/month.
Clark Fork's violent crime rate is 98.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 824.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Clark Fork are operated by LAKE PEND OREILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
The district has 8 elementary, 1 middle, and 4 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.9:1. 9.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Clark Fork, ID has a population of 963, a median household income of $47,411, and an unemployment rate of 12.9%.
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.
Clark Fork averages 34.3°F in January and 81.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 58.2 inches
with about 84.3 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Clark Fork, ID is covered by 1 ZIP code: 83811.
The population of Clark Fork, Idaho is 963 with a median age of 40.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Clark Fork: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $157,800, median household income $47,411, crime index 31 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Clark Fork side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.