The Town FilesMoscow, Idaho
City in Latah County · population 25,435 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $376,400
- Household income
- $57,022
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 51 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 25.7
Moscow is a city of 25,435 people in Latah County, Idaho. The median home is worth $376,400, above the typical Idaho town ($291,900). It ranks hipper than 100% of Idaho towns, better for young professionals than 99% of Idaho towns, more of a college town than 93% of Idaho towns.
How Moscow 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 Moscow is worth $376,400, above the typical Idaho town ($291,900). Homes cost about 6.6 times the median household income of $57,022, which is more affordable than 10% of Idaho towns. Median rent is $927 a month. 40.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Moscow | Typical Idaho town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $376,400 | $291,900 |
| Median rent | $927 | $1,029 |
| Median household income | $57,022 | $66,924 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.6× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 40.0% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Moscow
| People | Moscow | Typical Idaho town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 25.7 | 36.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.4% | 16.5% |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 50.0% | 21.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.1% | 11.4% |
| Veterans | 4.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.2% | — |
| Work from home | 10.2% | 8.4% |
| Average commute | 14.3 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.9% | 91.2% |
Weather in Moscow
July highs average 84.4°F and January lows 22.2°F. About 27.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 50.9 inches of snow (typical Idaho town: 38.8 in). Expect about 23 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 139 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Moscow since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Idaho town. The strongest, an F1, struck on May 2, 1973 about 0.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 2, 1973.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 8 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on August 2, 1976.
Severe weather in Latah County since 1996
Latah County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4917: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| April 7, 2026 | Straight-Line Winds | DR-4905: Straight-Line Winds |
| July 26, 2024 | Fire | FM-5520: Gwen Fire |
| July 16, 2024 | Fire | FM-5510: Texas Fire |
| April 9, 2020 | Biological | DR-4534: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Latah County
Latah County had 14,731 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,203 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Moscow itself the ACS puts it at 7.9%.
Public schools in Moscow
9 public schools with 2,529 students, about 15.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| MOSCOW HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 810 | 18.4 |
| MOSCOW MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 465 | 14.5 |
| A B MCDONALD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 321 | 14.6 |
| LENA WHITMORE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 229 | 14.3 |
| PALOUSE PRAIRIE CHARTER SCHOOL (charter) | K-8 | 196 | 16.3 |
| MOSCOW CHARTER SCHOOL (charter) | K-8 | 192 | 17.5 |
| WEST PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-2 | 153 | 12.8 |
| J RUSSELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 3-5 | 139 | 11.6 |
| PARADISE CREEK REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL | 8-12 | 24 | 8.0 |
Towns near Moscow
- Pullman, WA8.0 mi · 32,901 people · home $424,800
- Colfax, WA19.9 mi · 2,782 people · home $245,300
- Clarkston, WA21.9 mi · 7,161 people · home $253,500
- West Clarkston-Highland, WA22.9 mi · 5,488 people · home $282,500
- Lewiston, ID23.3 mi · 34,203 people · home $333,700
- Clarkston Heights-Vineland, WA24.9 mi · 7,275 people · home $385,900
Moscow questions
Is Moscow, Idaho a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Moscow scores better for retirees than 42% of Idaho towns and quieter than 11%. 10.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 25.7).
How much does a house cost in Moscow?
The median owner-occupied home in Moscow is valued at $376,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $57,022, so homes cost about 6.6 times income. Median rent is $927 a month.
What is the weather like in Moscow?
July highs average 84.4°F and January lows 22.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 27.8 inches of precipitation a year and 50.9 inches of snow.
Does Moscow get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Moscow since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on May 2, 1973. 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)