The Town FilesCottonwood, Idaho
City in Idaho County · population 822 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $234,700
- Household income
- $79,271
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 61 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 39.6
Cottonwood is a city of 822 people in Idaho County, Idaho. The median home is worth $234,700, below the typical Idaho town ($291,900). It ranks better for young professionals than 95% of Idaho towns, more of a college town than 91% of Idaho towns, better for families than 85% of Idaho towns.
How Cottonwood 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 Cottonwood is worth $234,700, below the typical Idaho town ($291,900). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $79,271, which is more affordable than 95% of Idaho towns. Median rent is $1,010 a month. 80.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Cottonwood | Typical Idaho town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $234,700 | $291,900 |
| Median rent | $1,010 | $1,029 |
| Median household income | $79,271 | $66,924 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 80.0% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 6.8% | — |
Who lives in Cottonwood
| People | Cottonwood | Typical Idaho town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.6 | 36.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.4% | 16.5% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.7% | 21.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.9% | 11.4% |
| Veterans | 8.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.2% | — |
| Work from home | 2.5% | 8.4% |
| Average commute | 23.5 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.8% | 91.2% |
Weather in Cottonwood
July highs average 80.6°F and January lows 24.7°F. About 22.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 61.4 inches of snow (typical Idaho town: 38.8 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 134 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cottonwood since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Idaho town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on October 7, 2010 about 9.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 7, 2010.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 9 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on July 11, 1998.
Severe weather in Idaho County since 1996
Idaho County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2026 | Straight-Line Winds | DR-4905: Straight-Line Winds |
| June 10, 2024 | Flood | DR-4789: Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| April 9, 2020 | Biological | DR-4534: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3467: Covid-19 |
| June 12, 2019 | Flood | DR-4443: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Idaho County
Idaho County had 4,590 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,963 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Cottonwood itself the ACS puts it at 9.3%.
Public schools in Cottonwood
2 public schools with 435 students, about 14.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| PRAIRIE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 241 | 15.1 |
| PRAIRIE JR/SR HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 194 | 13.9 |
Towns near Cottonwood
- Grangeville, ID13.9 mi · 3,308 people · home $293,300
- Kooskia, ID19.1 mi · 514 people · home $189,300
- Kamiah, ID19.6 mi · 1,117 people · home $222,500
Cottonwood questions
Is Cottonwood, Idaho a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Cottonwood scores better for retirees than 47% of Idaho towns and quieter than 50%. 19.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.6).
How much does a house cost in Cottonwood?
The median owner-occupied home in Cottonwood is valued at $234,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $79,271, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $1,010 a month.
What is the weather like in Cottonwood?
July highs average 80.6°F and January lows 24.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 22.6 inches of precipitation a year and 61.4 inches of snow.
Does Cottonwood get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cottonwood since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on October 7, 2010. 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)