A life in Lemhi County, Idaho

Where you are

You live in Lemhi County, Idaho. 8,043 people live here with you, so most faces are familiar. The population grew 1.9% last year, and more Americans moved in than out (net +221).

Idaho has a flat 5.8% income tax and grew faster than almost any state between 2015 and 2023, driven by arrivals from California and Washington to the Boise area. Home prices in Ada County more than doubled in that stretch. The state offers a property-tax reduction for lower-income seniors and taxes Social Security for nobody.

Money

The typical household here brings in $49,216 a year, lower than 80% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $49,342. Unemployment runs 3.7%, higher than 61% of American counties. 10% of workers work from home.

Idaho takes 5.8% of that median income in state income tax, about $2,855 a year.

Home

The median home costs $390K, pricier than 85% of American counties, about 3.5 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $742 a month. Property tax is 0.43% of home value, roughly $1,091 a year on that median home, lower than 93% of American counties. 84% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 3.9 per 1,000 residents, lower than 51% of American counties. Drug overdoses killed 15 people per 100,000 in 2024.

A child born here can expect to live 75.2 years, shorter than 57% of American counties. There are 9 active physicians in the county, about 11.2 per 10,000 people. Medicare rates the local hospitals 3.0 of 5 stars. 11.4% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

Local students test at grade level 2.86 where 3.0 is national grade level, lower than 72% of American counties. 92% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

In 2024 your neighbors voted Republican by 54 points, among the most lopsided counties in the country. 74% of eligible voters turned out. Under Idaho law you can carry a concealed handgun without a permit, abortion is banned with narrow exceptions, and marijuana is illegal.

Weather and risk

The year averages 42°F, highs near 54 and lows near 30, colder than 97% of American counties. About 22 inches of rain and snow fall a year. FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 32 out of 100, safer than 68% of American counties; the county has had 5 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 51 Mbps down, slower than 98% of American counties. There are 11 airports in the county, counting general aviation. For a night or a weekend out: 1.4 full-service restaurants per 1,000 people, 1 brewery.

Sources for this story

• BLS QCEW 2024
• CDC 2024
• CMS 2024
• Census 2023
• Census ACS
• Census ACS 2022
• Census Population Estimates 2023
• Census SAHIE 2024
• County Health Rankings 2024
• DataSpine derived — ACS 2022 home value / household income
• FAA Airport Database
• FEMA Disaster Declarations 1953–2026
• FEMA National Risk Index 2023 (0–100, all hazards)
• HRSA Area Health Resources File 2023
• IMLS
• NOAA Climate Normals
• National Park Service
• Ookla Speedtest Intelligence
• Open Brewery DB
• OpenElections 2024
• SEDA via County Health Rankings 2024 (3.0 = at grade level; not a Z-score)
• Tax Foundation 2023
• USDA Food Environment Atlas
• Zillow ZHVI 2024
• Idaho tax and law data: state revenue department, Tax Foundation, Giffords, Guttmacher (2026)

Percentiles compare this county with every other county that reports the same figure. Missing figures are left out rather than guessed. Share this page: the address is permanent.