Median Income
$42,361
household / year
Median Home Value
$95,600
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$729
gross / month
Cost of Living
93
national avg = 100

Is Idaho City, ID a Good Place to Live?

Idaho City is a small town of 673 in Idaho, with a median household income of $42,361 and a 6.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is 7% below the national average.

Strengths: Idaho City stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-).

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Idaho City is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Idaho City 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: 93.4

Idaho City's overall cost of living index is 93.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Idaho City costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.

Metric Idaho City, ID National Avg
Median Home Value $95,600 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $729 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 69.0% 65.9%
Median Household Income $42,361 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Idaho City's violent crime rate is 357.6 per 100,000 residents — 6% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
357.6 /100k
Property Crime
370.3 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Idaho City is served primarily by BASIN SCHOOL DISTRICT. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Idaho City, ID National Avg
School District BASIN SCHOOL DISTRICT —
Elementary Schools 1 —
Middle Schools N/A —
High Schools 1 —
Student/Teacher Ratio 11.9:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 9.7% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 94.5% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Idaho City sees average highs of 35.3°F in January and 87.1°F in July, with 21.1 inches of annual precipitation and 116.7 inches of snow per year.

MetricIdaho City, ID
Average High — January35.3°F
Average High — July87.1°F
Annual Precipitation21.1"
Annual Snowfall116.7"

Demographics

MetricIdaho City, IDNational Avg
Population673—
Median Age38.338.9
Unemployment Rate6.0%3.7%
Avg Commute Time28.6 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)90.6%59.3%
Black or African American0.1%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino8.2%18.9%
Asian0.9%6.3%
Under 1826.4%22.2%
65 and over20.7%16.8%

Nearby Cities

ZIP Codes in Idaho City

Idaho City, ID is covered by 1 ZIP code:

Idaho City vs Other Cities

Frequently Asked Questions

Idaho City's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average. That makes Idaho City roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $95,600 and median rent is $729/month.
Idaho City's violent crime rate is 357.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 370.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Idaho City are operated by BASIN SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.9:1. 9.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Idaho City, ID has a population of 673, a median household income of $42,361, and an unemployment rate of 6.0%. 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.
Idaho City averages 35.3°F in January and 87.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 21.1 inches with about 116.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Idaho City, ID is covered by 1 ZIP code: 83631.
The population of Idaho City, Idaho is 673 with a median age of 38.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Idaho City: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $95,600, median household income $42,361, crime index 64 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Idaho City side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.