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Living in
Pocatello.
About
Life in Pocatello
Pocatello offers a genuine small-to-mid-size city experience without the sprawl or cost of larger metros—median home values hover around $271,000 and rent averages $948 monthly, making it genuinely affordable. Idaho State University anchors the economy and brings cultural amenities like the Stephens Performing Arts Center, plus a steady stream of younger residents, but don't expect a college town vibe everywhere; this is a working city with real manufacturing jobs and a diverse economy. The job market is solid with 3.9% unemployment, and your commute will likely be short—most people spend under 17 minutes getting to work.
Pocatello at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
33.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
14.8%
Foreign-Born
4.1%
Broadband Internet
88.4%
of households
Population Growth
+3.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics4.1% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Pocatello: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Pocatello, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (12.8%), and 3.0% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
24.4%
of residents
65 and Older
13.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
30.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
35.9%
of households
Married Couples
43.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.46
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 23% below ID average
Rent, home values, and income in Pocatello
In Pocatello, rent runs 23% below the ID average, and home values are 35% below the ID average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
45.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
23.1%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
88.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,877
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
64.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1971
median year built
Vacant Homes
6.7%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $339,631 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.4 pts above ID average
Unemployment in Pocatello
Unemployment in Pocatello is 0.4 percentage points higher than the ID average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Pocatello Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute16.2 min avg
How Pocatello residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Pocatello, most residents drive alone to work (75%), and 89% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 8 mi
Pocatello Regional Airport (PIH)
Regional airport · few flights20k passengers boarded in 2025
- 145 mi
Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
Major hub13.4M 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.
Safetyabout average for violent crime
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Pocatello is close to the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
330.6
per 100,000 residents
About average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,431.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Pocatello Police Department
Natural DisastersWinter Weather most common — 22 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
66.9 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Bannock County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Bannock County, which includes Pocatello, the most common type is winter weather, with 22 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 22 | Winter Weather | $68,500 |
| 2024 | 28 | Winter Weather | $9,500 |
| 2023 | 31 | Winter Storm | $16,500 |
| 2022 | 32 | Heavy Snow | $5,000 |
| 2021 | 20 | High Wind | $3,000 |
| 2020 | 19 | Winter Storm | $10,000 |
| 2019 | 25 | Winter Storm | $9,000 |
| 2018 | 9 | Heavy Snow | None reported |
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.
22 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Bannock County, county-wide
Air Quality36 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Bannock County, which includes Pocatello, is typically good — 324 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
36
Good Days
324
per year
Moderate Days
40
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Bannock County, county-wide
Climate86°F summers, 21°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Pocatello has warm summers (avg high 86°F) and cold winters (avg low 21°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
61°/37°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
86°/56°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
63°/39°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
38°/21°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
13.0"
Annual Snowfall
29.7"
Hot Days/Year
47
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
132
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
89
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36°F | 21°F | 1.08" |
| Feb | 41°F | 22°F | 0.95" |
| Mar | 52°F | 31°F | 1.31" |
| Apr | 61°F | 37°F | 1.42" |
| May | 71°F | 44°F | 1.46" |
| Jun | 80°F | 52°F | 1.16" |
| Jul | 91°F | 59°F | 0.55" |
| Aug | 89°F | 57°F | 0.85" |
| Sep | 78°F | 49°F | 1.02" |
| Oct | 63°F | 38°F | 1.04" |
| Nov | 47°F | 29°F | 0.96" |
| Dec | 36°F | 21°F | 1.17" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Pocatello
Pocatello has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
6.9%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Portneuf Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
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.
Education19.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Pocatello
Pocatello's student/teacher ratio is 19.3:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 32.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
21
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
32.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
19.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Pocatello
Public · 4-year · 7,583 students · in-state tuition $8,914 · 46% graduate · median earnings $50,919 (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: Craters Of The Moon National Monument & Preserve, 56 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Pocatello
Pocatello has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Craters Of The Moon National Monument & Preserve (56 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Craters Of The Moon National Monument & Preserve
National Monument & Preserve
56 mi awayCity Of Rocks National Reserve
National Reserve
84 mi awayGolden Spike National Historical Park
National Historical Park
87 mi awayMinidoka National Historic Site
National Historic Site
91 mi awayPublic Libraries in Pocatello
Marshall Public
113 S Garfield, Pocatello
Cities Near Pocatello
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Pocatello?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Pocatello FAQ
Is Pocatello, Idaho affordable?⌄
Pocatello's median rent is $948/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $60,418/year. Median home value is $271,000.
Is Pocatello, Idaho safe?⌄
Pocatello's violent crime rate was 331 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1431 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Pocatello, Idaho?⌄
Pocatello has an unemployment rate of 4.1%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Pocatello, Idaho?⌄
The cost of living in Pocatello is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $948/month and median household income is $60,418/year. The median home value is $271,000. About 46% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Pocatello, Idaho?⌄
The average commute in Pocatello is 16 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