The Town FilesGlenns Ferry, Idaho
City in Elmore County · population 1,282 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $197,900
- Household income
- $51,840
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 99°
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 43.4
Glenns Ferry is a city of 1,282 people in Elmore County, Idaho. The median home is worth $197,900, below the typical Idaho town ($291,900). It ranks better for retirees than 93% of Idaho towns, more of a college town than 90% of Idaho towns, better for a vacation home than 85% of Idaho towns.
How Glenns Ferry 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 Glenns Ferry is worth $197,900, below the typical Idaho town ($291,900). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $51,840, which is more affordable than 77% of Idaho towns. Median rent is $646 a month. 67.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Glenns Ferry | Typical Idaho town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $197,900 | $291,900 |
| Median rent | $646 | $1,029 |
| Median household income | $51,840 | $66,924 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 67.9% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1949 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.4% | — |
Who lives in Glenns Ferry
| People | Glenns Ferry | Typical Idaho town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.4 | 36.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.9% | 16.5% |
| Under 18 | 19.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.5% | 21.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 23.2% | 11.4% |
| Veterans | 16.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.3% | — |
| Work from home | 6.3% | 8.4% |
| Average commute | 21.7 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.9% | 91.2% |
Weather in Glenns Ferry
July highs average 99.1°F and January lows 24.9°F. About 10.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year. Expect about 82 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 144 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Glenns Ferry since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Idaho town. The strongest, an F1, struck on August 10, 1986 about 2.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 25, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 2 times; the largest was 1.25 inches on July 2, 1998.
Severe weather in Elmore County since 1996
Elmore County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 9, 2020 | Biological | DR-4534: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3467: Covid-19 |
| August 27, 2017 | Flood | DR-4333: Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| April 21, 2017 | Flood | DR-4310: Severe Winter Storms And Flooding |
| August 13, 2013 | Fire | FM-5043: Elk Fire |
Jobs and pay in Elmore County
Elmore County had 7,531 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,221 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Glenns Ferry itself the ACS puts it at 1.1%.
Public schools in Glenns Ferry
3 public schools with 363 students, about 11.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| GLENNS FERRY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 152 | 10.9 |
| GLENNS FERRY HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 127 | 14.1 |
| GLENNS FERRY MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 84 | 10.5 |
Towns near Glenns Ferry
- Hagerman, ID22.8 mi · 968 people · home $194,700
- Mountain Home, ID23.3 mi · 15,979 people · home $309,400
- Mountain Home AFB, ID29.0 mi · 3,191 people · home —
Glenns Ferry questions
Is Glenns Ferry, Idaho a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Glenns Ferry scores better for retirees than 93% of Idaho towns and quieter than 74%. 20.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.4).
How much does a house cost in Glenns Ferry?
The median owner-occupied home in Glenns Ferry is valued at $197,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,840, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $646 a month.
What is the weather like in Glenns Ferry?
July highs average 99.1°F and January lows 24.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 10.6 inches of precipitation a year.
Does Glenns Ferry get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Glenns Ferry since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on August 10, 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)