What it's like to live in Rathdrum
Rathdrum is a small city in Idaho with crime rates well below the national average, a population that has grown fast since 2020, and schools with class sizes near the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Rathdrum deals with home prices well above the national average, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, cold winters, and fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city.
The good
- Low crime rates
- Fast-growing population
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- High home prices
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold winters
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Rathdrum compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Rathdrum
Based on Rathdrum's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,918
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $58,360 a year
- 52% of Rathdrum renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$88,820
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $44,410
- Homes cost 5.1× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,459/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,459 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices run above average, with a median around $444,100. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $444,100 · 52% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.5% county unemployment
Unemployment in Kootenai County is 4.5%, close to the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Kootenai County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 58% below US
139 violent crimes per 100k
Safety is genuinely one of the selling points here. Both violent and property crime run well below the national average, the kind of numbers that fade into the background after a week of living somewhere.
Property crime 733/100k · Rathdrum Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
25 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 24.9 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 9% 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
Education & workforce▼ 31% below US
25% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 25%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
8 public schools inside the boundary
There are 8 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17:1, close to the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area (72 miles away).
Bottom line
Rathdrum's strongest points are crime rates well below the national average and a population that has grown fast since 2020; 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 ($1,459/mo) equals 20% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime.
Other places near Rathdrum
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