The Town FilesBonners Ferry, Idaho
City in Boundary County · population 2,520 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $281,400
- Household income
- $52,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 54 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 40.5
Bonners Ferry is a city of 2,520 people in Boundary County, Idaho. The median home is worth $281,400, close to the typical Idaho town ($291,900). It ranks better for cycling than 83% of Idaho towns, better for retirees than 80% of Idaho towns, quieter than 77% of Idaho towns.
How Bonners Ferry 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 Bonners Ferry is worth $281,400, close to the typical Idaho town ($291,900). Homes cost about 5.4 times the median household income of $52,500, which is more affordable than 24% of Idaho towns. Median rent is $1,145 a month. 62.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bonners Ferry | Typical Idaho town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $281,400 | $291,900 |
| Median rent | $1,145 | $1,029 |
| Median household income | $52,500 | $66,924 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.4× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 62.8% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.7% | — |
Who lives in Bonners Ferry
| People | Bonners Ferry | Typical Idaho town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.5 | 36.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.1% | 16.5% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.7% | 21.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.4% | 11.4% |
| Veterans | 8.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.9% | — |
| Work from home | 8.1% | 8.4% |
| Average commute | 16.5 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.8% | 91.2% |
Weather in Bonners Ferry
July highs average 84.8°F and January lows 23.7°F. About 21.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 53.8 inches of snow (typical Idaho town: 38.8 in). Expect about 21 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 147 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Bonners Ferry since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 4 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on April 23, 1998.
Severe weather in Boundary County since 1996
Boundary County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2026 | Straight-Line Winds | DR-4905: Straight-Line Winds |
| April 9, 2020 | Biological | DR-4534: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3467: Covid-19 |
| May 18, 2017 | Flood | DR-4313: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| December 23, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4246: Severe Storm And Straight-Line Wind |
Jobs and pay in Boundary County
Boundary County had 4,045 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,133 a year. Unemployment was 4.7% in 2023; in Bonners Ferry itself the ACS puts it at 0.7%.
Public schools in Bonners Ferry
4 public schools with 1,274 students, about 17.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| BONNERS FERRY HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 428 | 17.1 |
| VALLEY VIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 406 | 19.3 |
| BOUNDARY COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 326 | 17.2 |
| MOUNT HALL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 114 | 16.3 |
Bonners Ferry questions
Is Bonners Ferry, Idaho a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bonners Ferry scores better for retirees than 80% of Idaho towns and quieter than 77%. 18.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.5).
How much does a house cost in Bonners Ferry?
The median owner-occupied home in Bonners Ferry is valued at $281,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,500, so homes cost about 5.4 times income. Median rent is $1,145 a month.
What is the weather like in Bonners Ferry?
July highs average 84.8°F and January lows 23.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 21.1 inches of precipitation a year and 53.8 inches of snow.
Does Bonners Ferry get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Bonners Ferry in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- 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)