The Town FilesPonderay, Idaho
City in Bonner County · population 1,289 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $436,700
- Household income
- $51,346
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 62 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 41.9
Ponderay is a city of 1,289 people in Bonner County, Idaho. The median home is worth $436,700, above the typical Idaho town ($291,900). It ranks better transit than 96% of Idaho towns, more vibrant than 82% of Idaho towns, more walkable than 78% of Idaho towns.
How Ponderay 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 Ponderay is worth $436,700, above the typical Idaho town ($291,900). Homes cost about 8.5 times the median household income of $51,346, which is more affordable than 2% of Idaho towns. Median rent is $1,099 a month. 32.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ponderay | Typical Idaho town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $436,700 | $291,900 |
| Median rent | $1,099 | $1,029 |
| Median household income | $51,346 | $66,924 |
| Home value ÷ income | 8.5× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 32.4% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1996 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.9% | — |
Who lives in Ponderay
| People | Ponderay | Typical Idaho town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.9 | 36.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.6% | 16.5% |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.3% | 21.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.6% | 11.4% |
| Veterans | 7.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.9% | — |
| Work from home | 5.3% | 8.4% |
| Average commute | 10.0 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.2% | 91.2% |
Weather in Ponderay
July highs average 81.8°F and January lows 22.9°F. About 34.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 62.0 inches of snow (typical Idaho town: 38.8 in). Expect about 14 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 156 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Ponderay since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Idaho town. The strongest, an F1, struck on August 19, 1978 about 0.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 19, 1978.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 9 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 24, 1983.
Severe weather in Bonner County since 1996
Bonner County has been included in 18 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 |
| August 15, 2025 | Fire | FM-5607: Sunset Fire |
| March 4, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4589: Straight-Line Winds |
| April 9, 2020 | Biological | DR-4534: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Bonner County
Bonner County had 15,970 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,761 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Ponderay itself the ACS puts it at 6.5%.
Towns near Ponderay
- Kootenai, ID1.0 mi · 941 people · home $370,800
- Sandpoint, ID1.9 mi · 8,639 people · home $465,600
- Dover, ID4.6 mi · 752 people · home $719,100
- Priest River, ID18.9 mi · 1,696 people · home $299,100
- Clark Fork, ID19.9 mi · 513 people · home $251,700
- Newport, WA25.4 mi · 2,114 people · home $303,200
- Athol, ID25.9 mi · 709 people · home $367,700
- Spirit Lake, ID28.0 mi · 2,337 people · home $436,600
Ponderay questions
Is Ponderay, Idaho a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ponderay scores better for retirees than 45% of Idaho towns and quieter than 28%. 21.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.9).
How much does a house cost in Ponderay?
The median owner-occupied home in Ponderay is valued at $436,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,346, so homes cost about 8.5 times income. Median rent is $1,099 a month.
What is the weather like in Ponderay?
July highs average 81.8°F and January lows 22.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.0 inches of precipitation a year and 62.0 inches of snow.
Does Ponderay get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Ponderay since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on August 19, 1978. 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)