The Town FilesDeary, Idaho
City in Latah County · population 508 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $237,200
- Household income
- $65,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 39 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 41.1
Deary is a city of 508 people in Latah County, Idaho. The median home is worth $237,200, below the typical Idaho town ($291,900). It ranks better for retirees than 95% of Idaho towns, quieter than 92% of Idaho towns, better for families than 90% of Idaho towns.
How Deary 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 Deary is worth $237,200, below the typical Idaho town ($291,900). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $65,000, which is more affordable than 83% of Idaho towns. Median rent is $1,125 a month. 84.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Deary | Typical Idaho town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $237,200 | $291,900 |
| Median rent | $1,125 | $1,029 |
| Median household income | $65,000 | $66,924 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 84.0% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1959 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Deary
| People | Deary | Typical Idaho town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.1 | 36.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.7% | 16.5% |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.2% | 21.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.1% | 11.4% |
| Veterans | 5.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 10.2% | 8.4% |
| Average commute | 29.7 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 76.9% | 91.2% |
Weather in Deary
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 25.5°F. About 24.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 38.9 inches of snow (typical Idaho town: 38.8 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 152 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Deary since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Idaho town. The strongest, an F1, struck on May 19, 1986 about 9.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 19, 1986.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 3 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 12, 1966.
Severe weather in Latah County since 1996
Latah County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4917: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| April 7, 2026 | Straight-Line Winds | DR-4905: Straight-Line Winds |
| July 26, 2024 | Fire | FM-5520: Gwen Fire |
| July 16, 2024 | Fire | FM-5510: Texas Fire |
| April 9, 2020 | Biological | DR-4534: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Latah County
Latah County had 14,731 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,203 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Deary itself the ACS puts it at 0.8%.
Public schools in Deary
1 public school with 144 students, about 11.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEARY SCHOOL | 4-12 | 144 | 11.1 |
Towns near Deary
- Troy, ID11.1 mi · 890 people · home $300,500
- Juliaetta, ID17.2 mi · 624 people · home $268,600
- Potlatch, ID18.2 mi · 763 people · home $244,200
- Moscow, ID21.4 mi · 25,435 people · home $376,400
- Genesee, ID24.6 mi · 1,030 people · home $316,800
- Palouse, WA25.6 mi · 1,015 people · home $286,200
- Orofino, ID26.2 mi · 2,656 people · home $223,400
- Pullman, WA29.3 mi · 32,901 people · home $424,800
Deary questions
Is Deary, Idaho a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Deary scores better for retirees than 95% of Idaho towns and quieter than 92%. 20.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.1).
How much does a house cost in Deary?
The median owner-occupied home in Deary is valued at $237,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $65,000, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $1,125 a month.
What is the weather like in Deary?
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 25.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 24.5 inches of precipitation a year and 38.9 inches of snow.
Does Deary get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Deary since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on May 19, 1986. 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)