The Town FilesKooskia, Idaho
City in Idaho County · population 514 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $189,300
- Household income
- $45,938
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 11 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 49.6
Kooskia is a city of 514 people in Idaho County, Idaho. The median home is worth $189,300, below the typical Idaho town ($291,900). It ranks quieter than 93% of Idaho towns, better for first-time buyers than 91% of Idaho towns, better for cycling than 80% of Idaho towns.
How Kooskia 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 Kooskia is worth $189,300, below the typical Idaho town ($291,900). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $45,938, which is more affordable than 67% of Idaho towns. Median rent is $831 a month. 81.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Kooskia | Typical Idaho town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $189,300 | $291,900 |
| Median rent | $831 | $1,029 |
| Median household income | $45,938 | $66,924 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 81.4% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1966 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 8.6% | — |
Who lives in Kooskia
| People | Kooskia | Typical Idaho town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.6 | 36.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 35.8% | 16.5% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 5.6% | 21.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.6% | 11.4% |
| Veterans | 16.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.2% | — |
| Work from home | 7.3% | 8.4% |
| Average commute | 21.7 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.0% | 91.2% |
Weather in Kooskia
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 Kooskia since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 10 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 31, 2010.
Severe weather in Idaho County since 1996
Idaho County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| 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 Idaho County
Idaho County had 4,590 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,963 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Kooskia itself the ACS puts it at 9.7%.
Public schools in Kooskia
2 public schools with 309 students, about 15.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| CLEARWATER VALLEY JR/SR | 7-12 | 167 | 12.8 |
| CLEARWATER VALLEY ELEMENTARY | PK-6 | 142 | 20.3 |
Towns near Kooskia
- Kamiah, ID6.4 mi · 1,117 people · home $222,500
- Grangeville, ID16.5 mi · 3,308 people · home $293,300
- Cottonwood, ID19.1 mi · 822 people · home $234,700
- Orofino, ID27.2 mi · 2,656 people · home $223,400
Kooskia questions
Is Kooskia, Idaho a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Kooskia scores better for retirees than 74% of Idaho towns and quieter than 93%. 35.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.6).
How much does a house cost in Kooskia?
The median owner-occupied home in Kooskia is valued at $189,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $45,938, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $831 a month.
What is the weather like in Kooskia?
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 Kooskia get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Kooskia 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)