The Town FilesOrofino, Idaho
City in Clearwater County · population 2,656 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $223,400
- Household income
- $53,438
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 18 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 44.8
Orofino is a city of 2,656 people in Clearwater County, Idaho. The median home is worth $223,400, below the typical Idaho town ($291,900). It ranks hipper than 92% of Idaho towns, better for retirees than 84% of Idaho towns.
How Orofino 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 Orofino is worth $223,400, below the typical Idaho town ($291,900). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $53,438, which is more affordable than 63% of Idaho towns. Median rent is $949 a month. 75.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Orofino | Typical Idaho town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $223,400 | $291,900 |
| Median rent | $949 | $1,029 |
| Median household income | $53,438 | $66,924 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 75.9% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.1% | — |
Who lives in Orofino
| People | Orofino | Typical Idaho town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.8 | 36.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.7% | 16.5% |
| Under 18 | 13.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.3% | 21.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.6% | 11.4% |
| Veterans | 11.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.3% | — |
| Work from home | 11.7% | 8.4% |
| Average commute | 17.5 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.7% | 91.2% |
Weather in Orofino
July highs average 89.5°F and January lows 27.7°F. About 26.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 17.5 inches of snow (typical Idaho town: 38.8 in). Expect about 47 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 102 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Orofino since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 12 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 8, 2016.
Severe weather in Clearwater County since 1996
Clearwater County has been included in 15 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 |
| April 9, 2020 | Biological | DR-4534: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3467: Covid-19 |
| May 18, 2017 | Flood | DR-4313: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Clearwater County
Clearwater County had 2,721 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,553 a year. Unemployment was 5.7% in 2023; in Orofino itself the ACS puts it at 6.5%.
Public schools in Orofino
2 public schools with 693 students, about 14.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| OROFINO HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 350 | 15.2 |
| OROFINO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 343 | 13.2 |
Orofino questions
Is Orofino, Idaho a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Orofino scores better for retirees than 84% of Idaho towns and quieter than 60%. 20.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.8).
How much does a house cost in Orofino?
The median owner-occupied home in Orofino is valued at $223,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $53,438, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is $949 a month.
What is the weather like in Orofino?
July highs average 89.5°F and January lows 27.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 26.1 inches of precipitation a year and 17.5 inches of snow.
Does Orofino get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Orofino 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)