The Town FilesChallis, Idaho
City in Custer County · population 902 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $176,400
- Household income
- $40,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 87°
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 48.4
Challis is a city of 902 people in Custer County, Idaho. The median home is worth $176,400, below the typical Idaho town ($291,900). It ranks better for retirees than 96% of Idaho towns, quieter than 96% of Idaho towns, better for a vacation home than 88% of Idaho towns.
How Challis 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 Challis is worth $176,400, below the typical Idaho town ($291,900). Homes cost about 4.3 times the median household income of $40,750, which is more affordable than 57% of Idaho towns. Median rent is $539 a month. 59.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Challis | Typical Idaho town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $176,400 | $291,900 |
| Median rent | $539 | $1,029 |
| Median household income | $40,750 | $66,924 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.3× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 59.2% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 9.7% | — |
Who lives in Challis
| People | Challis | Typical Idaho town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.4 | 36.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.8% | 16.5% |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.4% | 21.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.3% | 11.4% |
| Veterans | 19.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.0% | — |
| Work from home | 20.4% | 8.4% |
| Average commute | 12.7 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 72.9% | 91.2% |
Weather in Challis
July highs average 86.9°F and January lows 10.7°F. About 6.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year. Expect about 28 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 193 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Challis since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Idaho town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on April 24, 2008 about 1.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 24, 2008.
Severe weather in Custer County since 1996
Custer County has been included in 7 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 |
| August 27, 2017 | Flood | DR-4333: Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3244: Hurricane Katrina |
| September 1, 2000 | Fire | DR-1341: Wildfires |
Jobs and pay in Custer County
Custer County had 1,539 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,656 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Challis itself the ACS puts it at 1.2%.
Public schools in Challis
2 public schools with 315 students, about 12.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHALLIS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 166 | 13.8 |
| CHALLIS JR/SR HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 149 | 10.6 |
Challis questions
Is Challis, Idaho a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Challis scores better for retirees than 96% of Idaho towns and quieter than 96%. 22.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.4).
How much does a house cost in Challis?
The median owner-occupied home in Challis is valued at $176,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $40,750, so homes cost about 4.3 times income. Median rent is $539 a month.
What is the weather like in Challis?
July highs average 86.9°F and January lows 10.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 6.9 inches of precipitation a year.
Does Challis get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Challis since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on April 24, 2008. 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)