The Town FilesHorseshoe Bend, Idaho
City in Boise County · population 715 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $276,900
- Household income
- $65,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 39 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 48.8
Horseshoe Bend is a city of 715 people in Boise County, Idaho. The median home is worth $276,900, below the typical Idaho town ($291,900). It ranks quieter than 96% of Idaho towns, better for retirees than 89% of Idaho towns, better for a vacation home than 87% of Idaho towns.
How Horseshoe Bend 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 Horseshoe Bend is worth $276,900, below the typical Idaho town ($291,900). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $65,500, which is more affordable than 63% of Idaho towns. Median rent is $836 a month. 72.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Horseshoe Bend | Typical Idaho town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $276,900 | $291,900 |
| Median rent | $836 | $1,029 |
| Median household income | $65,500 | $66,924 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 72.8% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 10.7% | — |
Who lives in Horseshoe Bend
| People | Horseshoe Bend | Typical Idaho town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.8 | 36.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 27.3% | 16.5% |
| Under 18 | 14.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.5% | 21.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.2% | 11.4% |
| Veterans | 10.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.8% | — |
| Work from home | 18.4% | 8.4% |
| Average commute | 35.3 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.7% | 91.2% |
Weather in Horseshoe Bend
July highs average 87.6°F and January lows 23.5°F. About 18.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 38.7 inches of snow (typical Idaho town: 38.8 in). Expect about 29 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 125 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Horseshoe Bend since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 4 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on April 23, 1998.
Severe weather in Boise County since 1996
Boise County has been included in 7 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 18, 2012 | Fire | FM-5019: Karney Fire |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3244: Hurricane Katrina |
| September 1, 2000 | Fire | DR-1341: Wildfires |
Jobs and pay in Boise County
Boise County had 1,782 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $40,427 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Horseshoe Bend itself the ACS puts it at 3.4%.
Public schools in Horseshoe Bend
3 public schools with 262 students, about 13.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| HORSESHOE BEND ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 116 | 19.3 |
| HORSESHOE BEND MIDDLE/SR HIGH | 6-12 | 102 | 9.3 |
| SWEET MONTOUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 44 | 14.7 |
Towns near Horseshoe Bend
- Avimor, ID10.7 mi · 1,255 people · home $530,100
- Hidden Springs, ID14.1 mi · 3,076 people · home $773,500
- Emmett, ID14.9 mi · 7,647 people · home $342,000
- Garden City, ID17.8 mi · 12,316 people · home $449,500
- Eagle, ID18.3 mi · 30,346 people · home $772,900
- Robie Creek, ID19.5 mi · 1,193 people · home $585,400
- Star, ID20.7 mi · 11,117 people · home $564,300
- Boise City, ID22.0 mi · 235,684 people · home $484,800
Horseshoe Bend questions
Is Horseshoe Bend, Idaho a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Horseshoe Bend scores better for retirees than 89% of Idaho towns and quieter than 96%. 27.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.8).
How much does a house cost in Horseshoe Bend?
The median owner-occupied home in Horseshoe Bend is valued at $276,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $65,500, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is $836 a month.
What is the weather like in Horseshoe Bend?
July highs average 87.6°F and January lows 23.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 18.0 inches of precipitation a year and 38.7 inches of snow.
Does Horseshoe Bend get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Horseshoe Bend 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)