Cottonwood is a small town of 1,243 in Idaho, with a median household income of $55,147
and a 10.9% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is
9% below the national average.
Strengths:
Cottonwood stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Cottonwood is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Cottonwood 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: 91.0
Cottonwood's overall cost of living index is 91.0,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Cottonwood costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.
Metric
Cottonwood, ID
National Avg
Median Home Value
$163,200
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$844
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
72.2%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$55,147
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Cottonwood's violent crime rate is 264.0 per 100,000 residents
— 31% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
264.0 /100k
Property Crime
216.0 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Cottonwood is served primarily by COTTONWOOD JOINT DISTRICT.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.7:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Cottonwood, ID
National Avg
School District
COTTONWOOD JOINT DISTRICT
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.7:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
22.5%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
89.1%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Cottonwood sees average highs of 37.1°F in January
and 80.6°F in July,
with 22.6 inches of annual precipitation
and 61.4 inches of snow per year.
Cottonwood's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Cottonwood roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $163,200 and median rent is $844/month.
Cottonwood's violent crime rate is 264.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 216.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Cottonwood are operated by COTTONWOOD JOINT DISTRICT.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.7:1. 22.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Cottonwood, ID has a population of 1,243, a median household income of $55,147, and an unemployment rate of 10.9%.
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.
Cottonwood averages 37.1°F in January and 80.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 22.6 inches
with about 61.4 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Cottonwood, ID is covered by 1 ZIP code: 83522.
The population of Cottonwood, Idaho is 1,243 with a median age of 33.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Cottonwood: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $163,200, median household income $55,147, crime index 46 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Cottonwood side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
