The Town FilesKamiah, Idaho
City in Lewis County · population 1,117 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $222,500
- Household income
- $36,071
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 11 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 53.3
Kamiah is a city of 1,117 people in Lewis County, Idaho. The median home is worth $222,500, below the typical Idaho town ($291,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 86% of Idaho towns, better for cycling than 85% of Idaho towns, hipper than 81% of Idaho towns.
How Kamiah 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 Kamiah is worth $222,500, below the typical Idaho town ($291,900). Homes cost about 6.2 times the median household income of $36,071, which is more affordable than 14% of Idaho towns. Median rent is $543 a month. 69.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Kamiah | Typical Idaho town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $222,500 | $291,900 |
| Median rent | $543 | $1,029 |
| Median household income | $36,071 | $66,924 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.2× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 69.4% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1961 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.4% | — |
Who lives in Kamiah
| People | Kamiah | Typical Idaho town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.3 | 36.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 32.8% | 16.5% |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.8% | 21.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.5% | 11.4% |
| Veterans | 10.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.0% | — |
| Work from home | 9.4% | 8.4% |
| Average commute | 15.3 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 74.9% | 91.2% |
Weather in Kamiah
July highs average 90.4°F and January lows 26.4°F. About 24.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 11.3 inches of snow (typical Idaho town: 38.8 in). Expect about 56 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 120 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Kamiah since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 19 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on July 14, 1975.
Severe weather in Lewis County since 1996
Lewis County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2026 | Straight-Line Winds | DR-4905: Straight-Line Winds |
| June 10, 2024 | Flood | DR-4789: Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| April 9, 2020 | Biological | DR-4534: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3467: Covid-19 |
| June 12, 2019 | Flood | DR-4443: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Lewis County
Lewis County had 1,567 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $43,504 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Kamiah itself the ACS puts it at 4.6%.
Public schools in Kamiah
3 public schools with 387 students, about 13.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| KAMIAH MIDDLE SCHOOL | 4-8 | 140 | 14.0 |
| KAMIAH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-3 | 127 | 12.7 |
| KAMIAH SENIOR HIGH | 9-12 | 120 | 13.3 |
Towns near Kamiah
- Kooskia, ID6.4 mi · 514 people · home $189,300
- Cottonwood, ID19.6 mi · 822 people · home $234,700
- Orofino, ID20.8 mi · 2,656 people · home $223,400
- Grangeville, ID21.3 mi · 3,308 people · home $293,300
Kamiah questions
Is Kamiah, Idaho a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Kamiah scores better for retirees than 78% of Idaho towns and quieter than 56%. 32.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 53.3).
How much does a house cost in Kamiah?
The median owner-occupied home in Kamiah is valued at $222,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $36,071, so homes cost about 6.2 times income. Median rent is $543 a month.
What is the weather like in Kamiah?
July highs average 90.4°F and January lows 26.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 24.0 inches of precipitation a year and 11.3 inches of snow.
Does Kamiah get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Kamiah 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)