The Town FilesMontpelier, Idaho
City in Bear Lake County · population 2,643 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $240,300
- Household income
- $61,375
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 91 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 42.0
Montpelier is a city of 2,643 people in Bear Lake County, Idaho. The median home is worth $240,300, below the typical Idaho town ($291,900). It ranks better for a vacation home than 86% of Idaho towns, better for first-time buyers than 72% of Idaho towns, hipper than 72% of Idaho towns.
- #8 in The 12 Most Affordable Small Towns in Idaho
- #10 in The 11 Quietest Small Towns in Idaho
- #10 in The 13 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Idaho
- #11 in 15 Small Towns in Idaho With the Cheapest Homes
- #12 in The 15 Best Small Towns to Retire in Idaho
- #12 in The 12 Best Small Towns for Families in Idaho
How Montpelier 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 Montpelier is worth $240,300, below the typical Idaho town ($291,900). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $61,375, which is more affordable than 72% of Idaho towns. Median rent is $535 a month. 86.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Montpelier | Typical Idaho town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $240,300 | $291,900 |
| Median rent | $535 | $1,029 |
| Median household income | $61,375 | $66,924 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 86.2% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1955 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.9% | — |
Who lives in Montpelier
| People | Montpelier | Typical Idaho town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.0 | 36.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.6% | 16.5% |
| Under 18 | 24.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.1% | 21.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.8% | 11.4% |
| Veterans | 5.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.9% | — |
| Work from home | 5.7% | 8.4% |
| Average commute | 31.3 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.9% | 91.2% |
Weather in Montpelier
July highs average 84.6°F and January lows 6.7°F. About 17.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 90.6 inches of snow (typical Idaho town: 38.8 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 217 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Montpelier since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Idaho town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on July 7, 2013 about 6.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 7, 2013.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 6 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 23, 2011.
Severe weather in Bear Lake County since 1996
Bear Lake County has been included in 4 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 9, 2020 | Biological | DR-4534: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3467: Covid-19 |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3244: Hurricane Katrina |
| May 5, 1977 | Drought | EM-3040: Drought |
Jobs and pay in Bear Lake County
Bear Lake County had 1,998 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $40,230 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Montpelier itself the ACS puts it at 3.4%.
Public schools in Montpelier
4 public schools with 968 students, about 17.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| BEAR LAKE HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 360 | 16.4 |
| BEAR LAKE MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 302 | 18.9 |
| A J WINTERS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 286 | 16.8 |
| CLOVER CREEK HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 20 | — |
Towns near Montpelier
- Soda Springs, ID27.2 mi · 3,133 people · home $241,400
Montpelier questions
Is Montpelier, Idaho a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Montpelier scores better for retirees than 68% of Idaho towns and quieter than 67%. 20.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.0).
How much does a house cost in Montpelier?
The median owner-occupied home in Montpelier is valued at $240,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $61,375, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $535 a month.
What is the weather like in Montpelier?
July highs average 84.6°F and January lows 6.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 17.9 inches of precipitation a year and 90.6 inches of snow.
Does Montpelier get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Montpelier since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on July 7, 2013. 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)