The Town FilesCouncil, Idaho
City in Adams County · population 867 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $201,300
- Household income
- $50,208
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 114 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 61.5
Council is a city of 867 people in Adams County, Idaho. The median home is worth $201,300, below the typical Idaho town ($291,900). It ranks quieter than 97% of Idaho towns, better for a vacation home than 84% of Idaho towns, better for retirees than 81% of Idaho towns.
How Council 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 Council is worth $201,300, below the typical Idaho town ($291,900). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $50,208, which is more affordable than 69% of Idaho towns. Median rent is $779 a month. 80.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Council | Typical Idaho town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $201,300 | $291,900 |
| Median rent | $779 | $1,029 |
| Median household income | $50,208 | $66,924 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 80.4% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 13.7% | — |
Who lives in Council
| People | Council | Typical Idaho town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 61.5 | 36.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 39.3% | 16.5% |
| Under 18 | 13.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.9% | 21.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.2% | 11.4% |
| Veterans | 8.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 19.9% | 8.4% |
| Average commute | 15.0 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 75.6% | 91.2% |
Weather in Council
July highs average 91.9°F and January lows 18.0°F. About 22.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 114.0 inches of snow (typical Idaho town: 38.8 in). Expect about 56 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 159 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Council since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 2 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on May 28, 2026.
Severe weather in Adams County since 1996
Adams County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 19, 2022 | Fire | FM-5449: Four Corners Fire |
| 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 |
| July 27, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1927: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Adams County
Adams County had 1,025 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,947 a year. Unemployment was 6% in 2023; in Council itself the ACS puts it at 10.1%.
Public schools in Council
2 public schools with 294 students, about 17.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| COUNCIL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 172 | 24.6 |
| COUNCIL JR/SR HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 122 | 12.2 |
Towns near Council
- New Meadows, ID18.1 mi · 517 people · home $331,800
- McCall, ID20.0 mi · 3,686 people · home $676,500
- Cascade, ID24.8 mi · 1,005 people · home $346,100
Council questions
Is Council, Idaho a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Council scores better for retirees than 81% of Idaho towns and quieter than 97%. 39.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 61.5).
How much does a house cost in Council?
The median owner-occupied home in Council is valued at $201,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $50,208, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is $779 a month.
What is the weather like in Council?
July highs average 91.9°F and January lows 18.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 22.4 inches of precipitation a year and 114.0 inches of snow.
Does Council get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Council 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)