What are the schools like in Moscow, ID?

Moscow is served primarily by MOSCOW DISTRICT. The district operates 4 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.8:1.

What is the median household income in Moscow?

The median household income in Moscow, ID is $53,679 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.4%.

What is the weather like in Moscow, ID?

Moscow has an average high temperature of 37.4°F in January and 84.4°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 22.4 inches and annual snowfall averages 50.9 inches.

Moscow, ID Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Moscow, ID affordable or expensive?

Moscow's cost of living index is 94, where 100 represents the national average. This means Moscow is 6% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $311,200 and the median rent is $868 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Moscow, ID?

Moscow has a violent crime rate of 18.7 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1015.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Moscow, ID a Good Place to Live?

Moscow is a small city of 25,616 in Idaho, with a median household income of $53,679 and a 6.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 94 (US average = 100), which is 6% below the national average.

Strengths: Moscow stands out for an affordable cost of living, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A-), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

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

All Moscow 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: 94.5

Moscow's overall cost of living index is 94.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Moscow costs roughly 6% less than the average American city.

Metric	Moscow, ID	National Avg
Median Home Value	$311,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$868	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	41.4%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$53,679	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Moscow's violent crime rate is 18.7 per 100,000 residents — 95% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

18.7 /100k

Property Crime

1015.6 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Moscow is served primarily by MOSCOW DISTRICT. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.8:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Moscow, ID	National Avg
School District	MOSCOW DISTRICT	—
Elementary Schools	4	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.8:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	53.5%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	97.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Moscow sees average highs of 37.4°F in January and 84.4°F in July, with 22.4 inches of annual precipitation and 50.9 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Moscow, ID
Average High — January	37.4°F
Average High — July	84.4°F
Annual Precipitation	22.4"
Annual Snowfall	50.9"

Demographics

Metric	Moscow, ID	National Avg
Population	25,616	—
Median Age	24.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.4%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	14.2 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	87.2%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.8%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	3.6%	18.9%
Asian	3.0%	6.3%
Under 18	15.7%	22.2%
65 and over	9.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Viola, ID 8 mi Pullman, WA 8 mi Troy, ID 11 mi Albion, WA 13 mi Genesee, ID 13 mi

ZIP Codes in Moscow

Moscow, ID is covered by 2 ZIP codes:

83843 83844

Moscow vs Other Cities

Moscow, ID vs Viola, ID Moscow, ID vs Pullman, WA Moscow, ID vs Troy, ID Moscow, ID vs Albion, WA Moscow, ID vs Genesee, ID

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Moscow, ID affordable or expensive?

Moscow's cost of living index is 94, where 100 is the national average. That makes Moscow roughly 6% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $311,200 and median rent is $868/month.

What is the crime rate in Moscow, ID?

Moscow's violent crime rate is 18.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1015.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Moscow?

Public schools in Moscow are operated by MOSCOW DISTRICT. The district has 4 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.8:1. 53.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Moscow, ID a good place to live?

Moscow, ID has a population of 25,616, a median household income of $53,679, and an unemployment rate of 6.4%. 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.

What is the weather like in Moscow?

Moscow averages 37.4°F in January and 84.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 22.4 inches with about 50.9 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Moscow?

Moscow, ID is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 83843, 83844.

What is the population of Moscow?

The population of Moscow, Idaho is 25,616 with a median age of 24.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Moscow?

Key numbers for living in Moscow: cost of living index 94 (100 = US average), median home $311,200, median household income $53,679, crime index 22 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Moscow side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.