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CITY

Priest River

Idaho · 1,851 residents (2025 est.) · 2.24 sq mi
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The short version

Priest River has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $58,782. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 13% 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 $299,100. Poverty is rare here, at 5.0% of residents.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 43.4
US median: 38.9
Less educated
13% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 112%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
1,778
+1%since 2000
from 1,754 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
794 / sq mi
+1%since 2000
from 783 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
43.4
+23%since 2000
from 35.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:1,851 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
1K2K2K2K2K1990201020202024Priest River
20242K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$58,782
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $26,765 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$34,320
+143%since 2000
from $14,125 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
38.2%
+29.7 ptssince 2009
from 8.6% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
5.0%
−13.9 ptssince 2000
from 18.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.432
+12%since 2010
from 0.387 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Wholesale trade14.6%
US avg: 6.9%
Information12.9%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade9.9%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance7%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical6%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.9%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction2.9%
US avg: 1.2%
Other services1.6%
US avg: 6.7%
Education & health services1%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.7%
US avg: 1.9%
Public administration0.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Transportation & warehousing0%
US avg: 2.2%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$299,100
+112%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $77,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$817
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $441 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
74.2%
+4.3 ptssince 2000
from 69.9% in 2000
25.8% rent
Vacancy rate
13.6%
+5.3 ptssince 2009
from 8.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
22.6%
−12.4 ptssince 2009
from 34.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
36.6%
−23.8 ptssince 2009
from 60.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
5.1
+76%since 2000
from 2.9 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
63
RELATED:See current rent listings in Priest River on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic93.9%(1,647)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino1.6%(28)
Asian0.5%(8)
Other0%
Diversity Score5.3%(92)
2024
White, non-Hispanic86.1%(1,531)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino3.1%(55)
Asian0.2%(4)
Other10.6%(188)
Diversity Score30.8%(548)
Diversity Score
31
+486%since 2000
from 5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
12.5%
+6.4 ptssince 2000
from 6.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
90.8%
+12.9 ptssince 2000
from 77.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.0%
+3.0 ptssince 2000
from 2.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
28.4 min
+81%since 2000
from 15.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
76.6%
−2.5 ptssince 2009
from 79.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
4.9%
−6.2 ptssince 2009
from 11.1% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
2.7%
+2.7 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
10.0%
+6.1 ptssince 2009
from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.0%
−2.3 ptssince 2009
from 3.3% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
3.2%
+2.8 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
2.8%
−5.6 ptssince 2009
from 8.4% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
1.9%
−4.5 ptssince 2011
from 6.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
51.9%
−7.1 ptssince 2011
from 59.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
14.6%
+2.2 ptssince 2009
from 12.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
21.3%
−26.7 ptssince 2009
from 48.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
52.4%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 52.3% in 2009
Female
47.6%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 47.7% in 2009
Foreign born
0.2%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 1.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.6%
−43.9 ptssince 2009
from 51.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
18.7%
Unchangedsince 2012
from 18.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
11.1%
−69.3 ptssince 2013
from 80.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
76.2%
+18.0 ptssince 2017
from 58.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
99.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2016
from 99.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.0%
−0.7 ptssince 2016
from 0.7% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Compare Priest River to nearby cities

PRIEST RIVER VS
Sandpoint
Income$72,289+23%
Home value$465,600+56%
Population10,645+475%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PRIEST RIVER VS
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Income$86,563+47%
Home value$444,100+48%
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PRIEST RIVER VS
Hayden
Income$82,958+41%
Home value$494,500+65%
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PRIEST RIVER VS
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Income$82,183+40%
Home value$477,400+60%
Population46,715+2424%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Priest River, Idaho?

Priest River, Idaho has about 1,778 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Priest River, Idaho?

The typical household in Priest River, Idaho earns about $58,782 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Priest River, Idaho expensive?

In Priest River, Idaho, the median home is worth about $299,100, and the typical rent is about $817 a month.

How educated are people in Priest River, Idaho?

About 12.5% of adults age 25 and over in Priest River, Idaho hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Priest River, Idaho?

About 5.0% of people in Priest River, Idaho live below the federal poverty line.

Has Priest River, Idaho grown since 1990?

Yes, Priest River, Idaho has grown since 1990. The population has added about 218 residents, a change of about 14 percent over that period.

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

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