What are the schools like in Pocatello, ID?

Pocatello is served primarily by POCATELLO DISTRICT. The district operates 14 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 5 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 18.3:1.

What is the median household income in Pocatello?

The median household income in Pocatello, ID is $56,115 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.4%.

What is the weather like in Pocatello, ID?

Pocatello has an average high temperature of 36.3°F in January and 90.7°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 13.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 29.7 inches.

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

Q: Is Pocatello, ID affordable or expensive?

Pocatello's cost of living index is 92, where 100 represents the national average. This means Pocatello is 8% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $206,200 and the median rent is $790 per month.

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

Pocatello has a violent crime rate of 341.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1586.5 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Pocatello, ID a Good Place to Live?

Pocatello is a mid-sized city of 56,582 in Idaho, with a median household income of $56,115 and a 5.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is 8% below the national average.

Strengths: Pocatello stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.

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

All Pocatello 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: 91.7

Pocatello's overall cost of living index is 91.7, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Pocatello costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.

Metric	Pocatello, ID	National Avg
Median Home Value	$206,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$790	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	63.6%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$56,115	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Pocatello's violent crime rate is 341.2 per 100,000 residents — 10% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

341.2 /100k

Property Crime

1586.5 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Pocatello is served primarily by POCATELLO DISTRICT. The student-to-teacher ratio is 18.3:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Pocatello, ID	National Avg
School District	POCATELLO DISTRICT	—
Elementary Schools	14	—
Middle Schools	4	—
High Schools	5	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	18.3:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	31.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	93.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Pocatello sees average highs of 36.3°F in January and 90.7°F in July, with 13.0 inches of annual precipitation and 29.7 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Pocatello, ID
Average High — January	36.3°F
Average High — July	90.7°F
Annual Precipitation	13.0"
Annual Snowfall	29.7"

Demographics

Metric	Pocatello, ID	National Avg
Population	56,582	—
Median Age	32.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.4%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	16.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	86.2%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	5.0%	18.9%
Asian	2.4%	6.3%
Under 18	24.8%	22.2%
65 and over	13.6%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Chubbuck, ID 4 mi Tyhee, ID 6 mi Arbon Valley, ID 6 mi Fort Hall, ID 10 mi Inkom, ID 12 mi

ZIP Codes in Pocatello

Pocatello, ID is covered by 2 ZIP codes:

83201 83209

Pocatello vs Other Cities

Pocatello, ID vs Chubbuck, ID Pocatello, ID vs Tyhee, ID Pocatello, ID vs Arbon Valley, ID Pocatello, ID vs Fort Hall, ID Pocatello, ID vs Inkom, ID

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Pocatello, ID affordable or expensive?

Pocatello's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average. That makes Pocatello roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $206,200 and median rent is $790/month.

What is the crime rate in Pocatello, ID?

Pocatello's violent crime rate is 341.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1586.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Pocatello?

Public schools in Pocatello are operated by POCATELLO DISTRICT. The district has 14 elementary, 4 middle, and 5 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 18.3:1. 31.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Pocatello, ID a good place to live?

Pocatello, ID has a population of 56,582, a median household income of $56,115, and an unemployment rate of 5.4%. 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 Pocatello?

Pocatello averages 36.3°F in January and 90.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 13.0 inches with about 29.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Pocatello?

Pocatello, ID is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 83201, 83209.

What is the population of Pocatello?

The population of Pocatello, Idaho is 56,582 with a median age of 32.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Pocatello?

Key numbers for living in Pocatello: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $206,200, median household income $56,115, crime index 84 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Pocatello side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.