The Town FilesParis, Idaho
City in Bear Lake County · population 541 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $267,300
- Household income
- $95,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 91 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 39.1
Paris is a city of 541 people in Bear Lake County, Idaho. The median home is worth $267,300, below the typical Idaho town ($291,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 98% of Idaho towns, better for a vacation home than 96% of Idaho towns, better for families than 92% of Idaho towns.
How Paris 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 Paris is worth $267,300, below the typical Idaho town ($291,900). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $95,000, which is more affordable than 96% of Idaho towns. Median rent is $1,069 a month. 92.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Paris | Typical Idaho town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $267,300 | $291,900 |
| Median rent | $1,069 | $1,029 |
| Median household income | $95,000 | $66,924 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 92.4% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 38.8% | — |
Who lives in Paris
| People | Paris | Typical Idaho town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.1 | 36.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.3% | 16.5% |
| Under 18 | 39.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.3% | 21.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.0% | 11.4% |
| Veterans | 6.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.0% | — |
| Work from home | 4.8% | 8.4% |
| Average commute | 37.1 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.2% | 91.2% |
Weather in Paris
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 Paris since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Idaho town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on July 7, 2013 about 4.0 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 9 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 Paris itself the ACS puts it at 0.5%.
Public schools in Paris
2 public schools with 383 students, about 42.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| BEAR LAKE ON-LINE LEARNING | K-8 | 223 | — |
| PARIS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 160 | 17.8 |
Towns near Paris
- Montpelier, ID8.6 mi · 2,643 people · home $240,300
- Georgetown, ID17.5 mi · 503 people · home $197,700
- Garden City, UT20.1 mi · 602 people · home $654,900
- Cokeville, WY25.3 mi · 502 people · home $244,800
- Franklin, ID25.4 mi · 1,025 people · home $370,200
- Preston, ID26.1 mi · 5,591 people · home $350,300
- Grace, ID29.3 mi · 920 people · home $189,500
- Richmond, UT29.6 mi · 2,914 people · home $395,200
Paris questions
Is Paris, Idaho a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Paris scores better for retirees than 61% of Idaho towns and quieter than 57%. 20.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.1).
How much does a house cost in Paris?
The median owner-occupied home in Paris is valued at $267,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $95,000, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $1,069 a month.
What is the weather like in Paris?
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 Paris get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Paris 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)