The Town FilesAmerican Falls, Idaho
City in Power County · population 4,568 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $185,600
- Household income
- $57,783
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 35 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 33.0
American Falls is a city of 4,568 people in Power County, Idaho. The median home is worth $185,600, below the typical Idaho town ($291,900). It ranks better for cycling than 96% of Idaho towns, easier by car than 73% of Idaho towns, more of a college town than 70% of Idaho towns.
How American Falls ranks
Percentile among Idaho towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Idaho towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in American Falls is worth $185,600, below the typical Idaho town ($291,900). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $57,783, which is more affordable than 92% of Idaho towns. Median rent is $737 a month. 74.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | American Falls | Typical Idaho town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $185,600 | $291,900 |
| Median rent | $737 | $1,029 |
| Median household income | $57,783 | $66,924 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 74.1% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in American Falls
| People | American Falls | Typical Idaho town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.0 | 36.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.8% | 16.5% |
| Under 18 | 32.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.2% | 21.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.8% | 11.4% |
| Veterans | 5.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 17.3% | — |
| Work from home | 5.3% | 8.4% |
| Average commute | 13.9 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.6% | 91.2% |
Weather in American Falls
July highs average 90.4°F and January lows 18.7°F. About 11.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 34.9 inches of snow (typical Idaho town: 38.8 in). Expect about 42 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 145 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of American Falls since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Idaho town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on August 17, 1990 about 1.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 21, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 5 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on April 28, 2003.
Severe weather in Power County since 1996
Power County has been included in 5 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 9, 2020 | Biological | DR-4534: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3467: Covid-19 |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3244: Hurricane Katrina |
| September 1, 2000 | Fire | DR-1341: Wildfires |
| December 31, 1964 | Flood | DR-186: Heavy Rains & Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Power County
Power County had 4,005 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,894 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in American Falls itself the ACS puts it at 7.3%.
Public schools in American Falls
5 public schools with 1,534 students, about 16.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN FALLS HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 442 | 16.4 |
| HILLCREST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-2 | 367 | 16.0 |
| J.R. SIMPLOT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 3-5 | 354 | 18.6 |
| WILLIAM THOMAS MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 337 | 14.0 |
| AMERICAN FALLS ACADEMY | 6-12 | 34 | 11.3 |
Towns near American Falls
- Pocatello, ID20.8 mi · 56,320 people · home $271,000
- Chubbuck, ID22.4 mi · 15,570 people · home $341,700
- Fort Hall, ID25.7 mi · 3,195 people · home $203,300
American Falls questions
Is American Falls, Idaho a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, American Falls scores better for retirees than 23% of Idaho towns and quieter than 23%. 14.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.0).
How much does a house cost in American Falls?
The median owner-occupied home in American Falls is valued at $185,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $57,783, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $737 a month.
What is the weather like in American Falls?
July highs average 90.4°F and January lows 18.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 11.1 inches of precipitation a year and 34.9 inches of snow.
Does American Falls get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of American Falls since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on August 17, 1990. The typical Idaho town has had 2.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)