The Town FilesPocatello, Idaho
City in Bannock County · population 56,320 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $271,000
- Household income
- $60,418
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 30 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 33.1
Pocatello is a city of 56,320 people in Bannock County, Idaho. The median home is worth $271,000, below the typical Idaho town ($291,900). It ranks more vibrant than 96% of Idaho towns, more walkable than 94% of Idaho towns, better transit than 89% of Idaho towns.
How Pocatello 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 Pocatello is worth $271,000, below the typical Idaho town ($291,900). Homes cost about 4.5 times the median household income of $60,418, which is more affordable than 50% of Idaho towns. Median rent is $948 a month. 64.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Pocatello | Typical Idaho town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $271,000 | $291,900 |
| Median rent | $948 | $1,029 |
| Median household income | $60,418 | $66,924 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.5× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 64.5% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.2% | — |
Who lives in Pocatello
| People | Pocatello | Typical Idaho town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.1 | 36.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.8% | 16.5% |
| Under 18 | 24.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.6% | 21.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.8% | 11.4% |
| Veterans | 6.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.1% | — |
| Work from home | 11.1% | 8.4% |
| Average commute | 16.2 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.4% | 91.2% |
Weather in Pocatello
July highs average 90.7°F and January lows 20.9°F. About 13.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 29.7 inches of snow (typical Idaho town: 38.8 in). Expect about 47 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 132 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pocatello since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Idaho town. The strongest, an F1, struck on May 26, 1964 about 7.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 28, 2003.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 41 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 1, 2015.
Severe weather in Bannock County since 1996
Bannock County has been included in 5 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| 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 |
| September 1, 2000 | Fire | DR-1341: Wildfires |
| December 31, 1964 | Flood | DR-186: Heavy Rains & Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Bannock County
Bannock County had 37,594 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,720 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Pocatello itself the ACS puts it at 4.4%.
Public schools in Pocatello
23 public schools with 11,422 students, about 19.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| HIGHLAND HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,539 | 22.3 |
| POCATELLO HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,328 | 22.9 |
| CENTURY HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,086 | 20.5 |
| FRANKLIN MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 756 | 21.0 |
| IRVING MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 726 | 20.2 |
| HAWTHORNE MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 625 | 17.4 |
| ALAMEDA MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 600 | 18.2 |
| TYHEE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 568 | 22.7 |
| CLAUDE A WILCOX ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 498 | 18.4 |
| INDIAN HILLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 495 | 18.3 |
| GATE CITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 428 | 21.4 |
| LEWIS & CLARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 426 | 17.8 |
Towns near Pocatello
- Chubbuck, ID3.9 mi · 15,570 people · home $341,700
- Fort Hall, ID9.9 mi · 3,195 people · home $203,300
- American Falls, ID20.8 mi · 4,568 people · home $185,600
- Blackfoot, ID23.1 mi · 12,346 people · home $262,500
Pocatello questions
Is Pocatello, Idaho a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Pocatello scores better for retirees than 16% of Idaho towns and quieter than 2%. 13.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.1).
How much does a house cost in Pocatello?
The median owner-occupied home in Pocatello is valued at $271,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,418, so homes cost about 4.5 times income. Median rent is $948 a month.
What is the weather like in Pocatello?
July highs average 90.7°F and January lows 20.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 13.0 inches of precipitation a year and 29.7 inches of snow.
Does Pocatello get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pocatello since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on May 26, 1964. 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)