The Town FilesDowney, Idaho
City in Bannock County · population 571 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $173,800
- Household income
- $56,667
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 45 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 36.5
Downey is a city of 571 people in Bannock County, Idaho. The median home is worth $173,800, below the typical Idaho town ($291,900). It ranks better for a vacation home than 90% of Idaho towns, better for families than 86% of Idaho towns, quieter than 84% of Idaho towns.
How Downey 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 Downey is worth $173,800, below the typical Idaho town ($291,900). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $56,667, which is more affordable than 93% of Idaho towns. Median rent is $865 a month. 85.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Downey | Typical Idaho town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $173,800 | $291,900 |
| Median rent | $865 | $1,029 |
| Median household income | $56,667 | $66,924 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 85.4% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1945 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 7.5% | — |
Who lives in Downey
| People | Downey | Typical Idaho town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.5 | 36.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.0% | 16.5% |
| Under 18 | 29.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.3% | 21.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.2% | 11.4% |
| Veterans | 7.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.2% | — |
| Work from home | 6.7% | 8.4% |
| Average commute | 26.0 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.1% | 91.2% |
Weather in Downey
July highs average 88.6°F and January lows 14.4°F. About 15.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 44.7 inches of snow (typical Idaho town: 38.8 in). Expect about 38 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 181 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Downey since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 3 times; the largest was 1.50 inches on July 15, 2001.
Severe weather in Bannock County since 1996
Bannock County has been included in 5 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 |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3244: Hurricane Katrina |
| September 1, 2000 | Fire | DR-1341: Wildfires |
| December 31, 1964 | Flood | DR-186: Heavy Rains & Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Bannock County
Bannock County had 37,594 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,720 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Downey itself the ACS puts it at 0.8%.
Public schools in Downey
1 public school with 103 students, about 14.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| DOWNEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 103 | 14.7 |
Towns near Downey
- McCammon, ID15.5 mi · 825 people · home $296,300
- Malad City, ID17.7 mi · 2,299 people · home $249,400
- Grace, ID22.4 mi · 920 people · home $189,500
- Dayton, ID23.1 mi · 510 people · home $308,300
- Preston, ID25.9 mi · 5,591 people · home $350,300
- Inkom, ID26.3 mi · 792 people · home $270,600
- Weston, ID28.1 mi · 511 people · home $344,300
Downey questions
Is Downey, Idaho a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Downey scores better for retirees than 72% of Idaho towns and quieter than 84%. 22.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.5).
How much does a house cost in Downey?
The median owner-occupied home in Downey is valued at $173,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,667, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $865 a month.
What is the weather like in Downey?
July highs average 88.6°F and January lows 14.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 15.6 inches of precipitation a year and 44.7 inches of snow.
Does Downey get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Downey 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)