Priest River is a small town of 2,170 in Idaho, with a median household income of $49,868
and a 1.0% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is
9% below the national average.
Strengths:
Priest River stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Priest River is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Priest River 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: 91.3
Priest River's overall cost of living index is 91.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Priest River costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.
Metric
Priest River, ID
National Avg
Median Home Value
$235,800
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$696
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
75.6%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$49,868
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Priest River's violent crime rate is 108.0 per 100,000 residents
— 72% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
108.0 /100k
Property Crime
378.0 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Priest River is served primarily by WEST BONNER COUNTY DISTRICT.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.3:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Priest River, ID
National Avg
School District
WEST BONNER COUNTY DISTRICT
—
Elementary Schools
3
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.3:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
8.2%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
89.5%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Priest River sees average highs of 32.2°F in January
and 84.2°F in July,
with 27.5 inches of annual precipitation
and 73.9 inches of snow per year.
Priest River's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Priest River roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $235,800 and median rent is $696/month.
Priest River's violent crime rate is 108.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 378.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Priest River are operated by WEST BONNER COUNTY DISTRICT.
The district has 3 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.3:1. 8.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Priest River, ID has a population of 2,170, a median household income of $49,868, and an unemployment rate of 1.0%.
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.
Priest River averages 32.2°F in January and 84.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 27.5 inches
with about 73.9 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Priest River, ID is covered by 1 ZIP code: 83856.
The population of Priest River, Idaho is 2,170 with a median age of 43.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Priest River: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $235,800, median household income $49,868, crime index 24 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Priest River side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
