What it's like to live in Coeur d'Alene
Coeur d'Alene is a smaller city in Idaho with commutes that run shorter than most cities and a growing population. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Coeur d'Alene deals with home prices well above the national average, larger class sizes than the national average, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, and cold winters.
The good
- Short commutes
- Growing population
The not so good
- High home prices
- High student-teacher ratio
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold winters
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Coeur d'Alene compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Coeur d'Alene
Based on Coeur d'Alene's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,936
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $58,720 a year
- 54% of Coeur d'Alene renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$96,700
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $48,350
- Homes cost 6.7× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,468/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,468 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices are steep, with a median around $483,500. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $483,500 · 54% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
4.2% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.2%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 29% below US
235 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 683/100k · Coeur d'Alene Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 30% below US
18 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 18.1 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 13% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are comfortable, with highs around 79°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 26°F and snow a regular occurrence.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 4.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 13% below US
31% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 31% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
19 public schools inside the boundary
There are 19 public schools inside the boundary and 6 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 18:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area (79 miles away).
Bottom line
Coeur d'Alene's strongest points are commutes that run shorter than most cities and a growing population; the main tradeoffs are home prices well above the national average and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin. A year of median rent ($1,468/mo) equals 24% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Coeur d'Alene
All Idaho guides →Moving to Hayden →
4 mi away · pop. 16,338
Rent $1,733/mo · Income $82,958
Compare with Coeur d'Alene →Moving to Post Falls →
7 mi away · pop. 43,391
Rent $1,469/mo · Income $82,183
Compare with Coeur d'Alene →Moving to Rathdrum →
8 mi away · pop. 10,874
Rent $1,459/mo · Income $86,563
Compare with Coeur d'Alene →Not sure Coeur d'Alene is the one?
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