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Living in
Moscow.
About
Life in Moscow
If you're considering moving to Moscow, understand that the University of Idaho shapes nearly everything here—from the job market to the cultural calendar to the median age staying in the mid-20s. That said, it's not a transient college town; plenty of families and professionals build real lives here. Housing is reasonably affordable at a median home value around $376,000 and median rent under $950, the job market is stable with 3.1% unemployment, and your commute will likely be short (14 minutes average).
Moscow at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
25.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
25.1%
Foreign-Born
5.2%
Broadband Internet
89.9%
of households
Population Growth
+4.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics5.2% foreign-born, most often from Canada
Who lives in Moscow: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Moscow, the largest foreign-born group is from Canada (7.8%), and 2.3% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
16.7%
of residents
65 and Older
10.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
25.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
30.9%
of households
Married Couples
36.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.21
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 25% below ID average
Rent, home values, and income in Moscow
In Moscow, rent runs 25% below the ID average, and home values are 10% below the ID average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
52.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
29.9%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$2,856
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
40.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1983
median year built
Vacant Homes
6.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $480,926 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.7 pts below ID average
Unemployment in Moscow
Unemployment in Moscow is 0.7 percentage points lower than the ID average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Moscow Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute14.3 min avg
How Moscow residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Moscow, most residents drive alone to work (63%), and 89% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 5 mi
Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport (PUW)
Regional airport · few flights74k passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 89% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Moscow runs 89% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
36.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,123
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Moscow Police Department
Natural DisastersHeavy Snow most common — 4 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very Low
33.3 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Latah County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Latah County, which includes Moscow, the most common type is heavy snow, with 4 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4 | High Wind | $2,000 |
| 2024 | 13 | Wildfire | $3,500 |
| 2023 | 18 | Heavy Snow | $150,250 |
| 2022 | 26 | Wildfire | $15,000 |
| 2021 | 13 | Heavy Snow | None reported |
| 2020 | 16 | Heavy Snow | $30,000 |
| 2019 | 15 | Heavy Snow | $250,500 |
| 2018 | 12 | Heavy Snow | $1,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Latah County, county-wide
Air Quality31 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Latah County, which includes Moscow, is typically good — 282 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
31
Good Days
282
per year
Moderate Days
55
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Latah County, county-wide
Climate81°F summers, 23°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Moscow has warm summers (avg high 81°F) and cold winters (avg low 23°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
58°/33°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
81°/44°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
61°/33°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
39°/23°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
22.4"
Annual Snowfall
50.9"
Hot Days/Year
23
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
139
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
132
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 37°F | 22°F | 3.33" |
| Feb | 42°F | 24°F | 2.56" |
| Mar | 50°F | 28°F | 3.05" |
| Apr | 58°F | 32°F | 2.75" |
| May | 67°F | 38°F | 2.60" |
| Jun | 73°F | 42°F | 1.73" |
| Jul | 84°F | 45°F | 0.66" |
| Aug | 86°F | 45°F | 0.70" |
| Sep | 76°F | 40°F | 1.01" |
| Oct | 61°F | 33°F | 2.40" |
| Nov | 45°F | 27°F | 3.52" |
| Dec | 36°F | 22°F | 3.47" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Moscow
Moscow has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
8.1%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Gritman Medical Center
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Pullman Regional Hospital
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available · 8.6 mi away · Pullman
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Moscow
Moscow's student/teacher ratio is 15.4:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 50.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
9
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
50.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Moscow
Public · 4-year · 7,747 students · in-state tuition $9,400 · 62% graduate · median earnings $58,095 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 305 students · in-state tuition $18,000 · 69% graduate
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 21,099 students · in-state tuition $13,888 · 66% graduate · median earnings $72,280 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Nez Perce National Historical Park, 70 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Moscow
Moscow has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Nez Perce National Historical Park (70 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Nez Perce National Historical Park
National Historical Park
70 mi awayWhitman Mission National Historic Site
National Historic Site
84 mi awayIce Age Floods National Geologic Trail
National Geologic Trail
95 mi awayPublic Libraries in Moscow
Latah County District
110 S Jefferson St, Moscow
Cities Near Moscow
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Moscow?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Moscow FAQ
Is Moscow, Idaho affordable?⌄
Moscow's median rent is $927/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $57,022/year. Median home value is $376,400.
Is Moscow, Idaho safe?⌄
Moscow's violent crime rate was 37 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1123 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Moscow, Idaho?⌄
Moscow has an unemployment rate of 3.0%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Moscow, Idaho?⌄
The cost of living in Moscow is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $927/month and median household income is $57,022/year. The median home value is $376,400. About 53% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Moscow, Idaho?⌄
The average commute in Moscow is 14 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from