The Town FilesPaul, Idaho
City in Minidoka County · population 1,195 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $268,100
- Household income
- $66,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 21 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 31.0
Paul is a city of 1,195 people in Minidoka County, Idaho. The median home is worth $268,100, below the typical Idaho town ($291,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 87% of Idaho towns, easier by car than 85% of Idaho towns.
How Paul 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 Paul is worth $268,100, below the typical Idaho town ($291,900). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $66,500, which is more affordable than 69% of Idaho towns. Median rent is $828 a month. 65.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Paul | Typical Idaho town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $268,100 | $291,900 |
| Median rent | $828 | $1,029 |
| Median household income | $66,500 | $66,924 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 65.1% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.3% | — |
Who lives in Paul
| People | Paul | Typical Idaho town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31.0 | 36.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.8% | 16.5% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.1% | 21.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.4% | 11.4% |
| Veterans | 4.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 14.8% | — |
| Work from home | 4.4% | 8.4% |
| Average commute | 23.7 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.3% | 91.2% |
Weather in Paul
July highs average 85.3°F and January lows 19.2°F. About 10.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 20.5 inches of snow (typical Idaho town: 38.8 in). Expect about 29 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 159 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Paul since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Idaho town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 18, 1991 about 5.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 8, 2009.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 17 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 24, 2023.
Severe weather in Minidoka County since 1996
Minidoka County has been included in 5 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 9, 2020 | Biological | DR-4534: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3467: Covid-19 |
| April 21, 2017 | Flood | DR-4310: Severe Winter Storms And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3244: Hurricane Katrina |
| December 31, 1964 | Flood | DR-186: Heavy Rains & Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Minidoka County
Minidoka County had 9,290 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,905 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Paul itself the ACS puts it at 0.8%.
Public schools in Paul
2 public schools with 974 students, about 17.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| WEST MINICO MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 490 | 16.9 |
| PAUL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 484 | 17.3 |
Towns near Paul
- Heyburn, ID3.3 mi · 3,700 people · home $237,800
- Burley, ID4.6 mi · 11,704 people · home $231,300
- Rupert, ID5.7 mi · 6,082 people · home $205,200
- Hazelton, ID17.9 mi · 803 people · home $221,300
- Oakley, ID25.5 mi · 786 people · home $233,500
- Hansen, ID26.8 mi · 1,086 people · home $220,200
Paul questions
Is Paul, Idaho a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Paul scores better for retirees than 49% of Idaho towns and quieter than 38%. 10.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 31.0).
How much does a house cost in Paul?
The median owner-occupied home in Paul is valued at $268,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $66,500, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is $828 a month.
What is the weather like in Paul?
July highs average 85.3°F and January lows 19.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 10.8 inches of precipitation a year and 20.5 inches of snow.
Does Paul get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Paul since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 18, 1991. 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)