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CITY

Ponderay

Idaho · 2,024 residents (2025 est.) · 2.934 sq mi
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The short version

Ponderay has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $51,346. The city has more than doubled in size since 2000, adding 896 residents. 11% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than tripled since 2000, reaching $436,700. Households here earn about 34% less than the Idaho median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 41.9
US median: 38.9
Less educated
11% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 242%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
1,534
+140%since 2000
from 638 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
523 / sq mi
+28%since 2009
from 409 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
41.9
+12%since 2000
from 37.4 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:2,024 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
3256559851K2K1990201020202024Ponderay
20242K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 51.8%(28)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 94.6%(71)
US avg: 6%
10 to 145.5%(84)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 1910.4%(160)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.2%(64)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3413%(200)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4413.7%(210)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 548.1%(125)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6416.9%(260)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7414.1%(216)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 845%(76)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.6%(40)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$51,346
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $27,853 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$30,434
+127%since 2000
from $13,432 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
32.4%
+29.9 ptssince 2009
from 2.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
14.6%
−1.1 ptssince 2000
from 15.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.391
+9%since 2010
from 0.360 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information34.3%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade9.5%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services6.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Wholesale trade3.9%
US avg: 6.9%
Public administration2.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.6%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Finance & insurance0.8%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical0.8%
US avg: 5.1%
Arts, entertainment, food0.8%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Transportation & warehousing0%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$436,700
+242%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $70,000 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,099
−1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $611 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
32.4%
−37.7 ptssince 2000
from 70.1% in 2000
67.6% rent
Vacancy rate
14.4%
+14.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
10.3%
−31.1 ptssince 2009
from 41.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
50.0%
−26.3 ptssince 2009
from 76.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
8.5
Unchangedsince 2009
from 8.5 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
64
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Ponderay on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic97%(619)
Black0.5%(3)
Hispanic / Latino0.3%(2)
Asian1.1%(7)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic77.4%(1,187)
Black6.8%(105)
Hispanic / Latino7%(108)
Asian1.3%(20)
Other7.4%(114)
Diversity Score
48
+229%since 2009
from 15 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican6.3%(96)
Spaniard0.5%(8)
Asian origin
Thai1.3%(20)
Ancestry
German14.1%(217)
Irish13.6%(208)
English7.6%(116)
American7.1%(109)
Norwegian4.8%(74)
Polish3.3%(51)
French3.2%(49)
Scotch-Irish3.1%(47)
Italian2.2%(34)
Dutch1.8%(28)
Danish1.4%(22)
Swiss1.4%(22)
+ 9 more ancestry groups with data
Ukrainian1.4%(22)
Russian1.2%(18)
Brazilian1.1%(17)
Swedish1%(16)
Finnish0.9%(14)
Romanian0.5%(7)
British0.3%(4)
Portuguese0.3%(4)
Welsh0.1%(2)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest English population · Largest American population · Largest Mexican population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
11.3%
+1.2 ptssince 2000
from 10.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
89.9%
+13.9 ptssince 2000
from 75.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
3.3%
+0.6 ptssince 2000
from 2.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
10.0 min
−23%since 2000
from 13.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
68.1%
−12.5 ptssince 2009
from 80.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.0%
+4.4 ptssince 2009
from 3.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
7.4%
+7.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
5.3%
−2.8 ptssince 2009
from 8.1% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
10.5%
+4.9 ptssince 2009
from 5.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.7%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
2.1%
−5.1 ptssince 2009
from 7.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.5%
+4.7 ptssince 2011
from 1.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
60.4%
+11.3 ptssince 2011
from 49.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
4.7%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 4.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
17.6%
−41.7 ptssince 2009
from 59.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.2%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 49.8% in 2009
Female
51.8%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 50.2% in 2009
Foreign born
2.9%
+1.8 ptssince 2009
from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.9%
−43.9 ptssince 2009
from 51.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
28.8%
+9.3 ptssince 2012
from 19.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
17.4%
−61.2 ptssince 2013
from 78.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
89.2%
+17.1 ptssince 2017
from 72.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
94.2%
−3.4 ptssince 2016
from 97.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.2%
+0.7 ptssince 2016
from 0.4% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married49.5%(327)
Married34.8%(230)
Widowed3%(20)
Divorced12.6%(83)
Women 15+
Never married31.4%(217)
Married38.8%(268)
Widowed7.1%(49)
Divorced22.7%(157)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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Compare Ponderay to nearby cities

PONDERAY VS
Sandpoint
Income$72,289+41%
Home value$465,600+7%
Population10,645+426%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PONDERAY VS
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Income$86,563+69%
Home value$444,100+2%
Population13,227+554%
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PONDERAY VS
Hayden
Income$82,958+62%
Home value$494,500+13%
Population17,363+758%
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PONDERAY VS
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Income$72,338+41%
Home value$483,500+11%
Population58,179+2774%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Ponderay, Idaho?

Ponderay, Idaho has about 1,534 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Ponderay, Idaho?

The typical household in Ponderay, Idaho earns about $51,346 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Ponderay, Idaho expensive?

In Ponderay, Idaho, the median home is worth about $436,700, and the typical rent is about $1,099 a month.

How educated are people in Ponderay, Idaho?

About 11.3% of adults age 25 and over in Ponderay, Idaho hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Ponderay, Idaho?

About 14.6% of people in Ponderay, Idaho live below the federal poverty line.

Has Ponderay, Idaho grown since 1990?

Yes, Ponderay, Idaho has grown since 1990. The population has added about 1,099 residents, a change of about 253 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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