The Town FilesGenesee, Idaho
City in Latah County · population 1,030 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $316,800
- Household income
- $85,673
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 33 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 32.6
Genesee is a city of 1,030 people in Latah County, Idaho. The median home is worth $316,800, above the typical Idaho town ($291,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 95% of Idaho towns, better for retirees than 93% of Idaho towns, quieter than 86% of Idaho towns.
How Genesee 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 Genesee is worth $316,800, above the typical Idaho town ($291,900). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $85,673, which is more affordable than 81% of Idaho towns. Median rent is $1,148 a month. 85.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Genesee | Typical Idaho town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $316,800 | $291,900 |
| Median rent | $1,148 | $1,029 |
| Median household income | $85,673 | $66,924 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 85.4% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Genesee
| People | Genesee | Typical Idaho town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.6 | 36.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.6% | 16.5% |
| Under 18 | 29.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 40.7% | 21.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.0% | 11.4% |
| Veterans | 8.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.2% | — |
| Work from home | 8.2% | 8.4% |
| Average commute | 22.7 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.1% | 91.2% |
Weather in Genesee
July highs average 84.4°F and January lows 22.2°F. About 27.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 32.8 inches of snow (typical Idaho town: 38.8 in). Expect about 23 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 139 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Genesee since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Idaho town. The strongest, an F1, struck on June 20, 1969 about 7.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 31, 1997.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 3 times; the largest was 1.50 inches on June 5, 2022.
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 Genesee itself the ACS puts it at 4.1%.
Public schools in Genesee
1 public school with 293 students, about 14.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| GENESEE SCHOOL | PK-12 | 293 | 14.7 |
Towns near Genesee
- Juliaetta, ID10.6 mi · 624 people · home $268,600
- Clarkston, WA11.1 mi · 7,161 people · home $253,500
- Lewiston, ID11.4 mi · 34,203 people · home $333,700
- Lapwai, ID11.8 mi · 1,169 people · home $113,700
- West Clarkston-Highland, WA12.2 mi · 5,488 people · home $282,500
- Moscow, ID12.8 mi · 25,435 people · home $376,400
- Clarkston Heights-Vineland, WA14.5 mi · 7,275 people · home $385,900
- Troy, ID14.8 mi · 890 people · home $300,500
Genesee questions
Is Genesee, Idaho a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Genesee scores better for retirees than 93% of Idaho towns and quieter than 86%. 11.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.6).
How much does a house cost in Genesee?
The median owner-occupied home in Genesee is valued at $316,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $85,673, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $1,148 a month.
What is the weather like in Genesee?
July highs average 84.4°F and January lows 22.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 27.8 inches of precipitation a year and 32.8 inches of snow.
Does Genesee get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Genesee since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on June 20, 1969. 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)