Lava Hot Springs is a small town of 293 in Idaho, with a median household income of $45,000
and a 6.9% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is
8% below the national average.
Strengths:
Lava Hot Springs 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 Lava Hot Springs is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Lava Hot Springs 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: 91.9
Lava Hot Springs's overall cost of living index is 91.9,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Lava Hot Springs costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.
Metric
Lava Hot Springs, ID
National Avg
Median Home Value
$218,500
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$783
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
56.4%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$45,000
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Lava Hot Springs's violent crime rate is 296.1 per 100,000 residents
— 22% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
296.1 /100k
Property Crime
1678.7 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Lava Hot Springs is served primarily by MARSH VALLEY JOINT DISTRICT.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.7:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Lava Hot Springs, ID
National Avg
School District
MARSH VALLEY JOINT DISTRICT
—
Elementary Schools
4
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.7:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
23.5%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
97.4%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Lava Hot Springs sees average highs of 31.9°F in January
and 87.2°F in July,
with 18.2 inches of annual precipitation
and 44.7 inches of snow per year.
Lava Hot Springs's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Lava Hot Springs roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $218,500 and median rent is $783/month.
Lava Hot Springs's violent crime rate is 296.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1678.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Lava Hot Springs are operated by MARSH VALLEY JOINT DISTRICT.
The district has 4 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.7:1. 23.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Lava Hot Springs, ID has a population of 293, a median household income of $45,000, and an unemployment rate of 6.9%.
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.
Lava Hot Springs averages 31.9°F in January and 87.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 18.2 inches
with about 44.7 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Lava Hot Springs, ID is covered by 1 ZIP code: 83246.
The population of Lava Hot Springs, Idaho is 293 with a median age of 50.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Lava Hot Springs: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $218,500, median household income $45,000, crime index 79 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Lava Hot Springs side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
