Cost of Living in Clearwater County, Idaho
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Clearwater County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Clearwater County ranks #1,289 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 41%)
Sourced county brief
Clearwater County Median Monthly Owner Costs Estimated at $718
The median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied housing units in Clearwater County is $718, according to the 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates. This figure is below the Idaho unweighted county mean of $968. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI), per ACS table B25071, is 28.9%, which is 2.0 percentage points above the Idaho unweighted county mean of 26.9%. Renters in the county faced a median gross rent of $875 per month, while the Idaho unweighted county mean for this metric is $968. The median home value for owner-occupied units was estimated at $268,200, compared to the unweighted county mean of $355,261 for all Idaho counties. Additionally, the median renter-household income was recorded at $37,072. These statistics represent a fixed snapshot and do not indicate future market changes or trends. See ACS table B25088 for the underlying owner cost estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Clearwater County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 28.9% of renter household income in Clearwater County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $875 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $718. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $35,000 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Idaho unweighted mean of county median rents is $968 per month. Clearwater County's $875 median is 9.6% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Clearwater County
Rent Burden
17.5%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,400
per month
Owner Cost Burden
14.4%
of gross income
The median home in Clearwater County may be a stretch
Median home value is $268,200. Estimated monthly cost: $2,141 vs. your max of $1,400.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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