The Town FilesPotlatch, Idaho
City in Latah County · population 763 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $244,200
- Household income
- $76,607
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 41 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 36.3
Potlatch is a city of 763 people in Latah County, Idaho. The median home is worth $244,200, below the typical Idaho town ($291,900). It ranks quieter than 91% of Idaho towns, more upscale than 88% of Idaho towns, better for retirees than 74% of Idaho towns.
How Potlatch 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 Potlatch is worth $244,200, below the typical Idaho town ($291,900). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $76,607, which is more affordable than 92% of Idaho towns. 86.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Potlatch | Typical Idaho town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $244,200 | $291,900 |
| Median rent | — | $1,029 |
| Median household income | $76,607 | $66,924 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 86.3% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Potlatch
| People | Potlatch | Typical Idaho town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.3 | 36.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.8% | 16.5% |
| Under 18 | 25.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.4% | 21.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.4% | 11.4% |
| Veterans | 4.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.8% | — |
| Work from home | 2.6% | 8.4% |
| Average commute | 27.9 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.3% | 91.2% |
Weather in Potlatch
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 25.5°F. About 24.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 41.3 inches of snow (typical Idaho town: 38.8 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 152 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Potlatch since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 2 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 29, 1984.
Severe weather in Latah County since 1996
Latah County has been included in 16 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 |
| July 26, 2024 | Fire | FM-5520: Gwen Fire |
| July 16, 2024 | Fire | FM-5510: Texas Fire |
| April 9, 2020 | Biological | DR-4534: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Latah County
Latah County had 14,731 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,203 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Potlatch itself the ACS puts it at 6.7%.
Public schools in Potlatch
2 public schools with 462 students, about 14.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| POTLATCH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 249 | 13.8 |
| POTLATCH JR/SR HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 213 | 15.2 |
Towns near Potlatch
- Palouse, WA8.4 mi · 1,015 people · home $286,200
- Garfield, WA12.9 mi · 562 people · home $221,200
- Troy, ID14.1 mi · 890 people · home $300,500
- Moscow, ID14.1 mi · 25,435 people · home $376,400
- Deary, ID18.2 mi · 508 people · home $237,200
- Pullman, WA18.3 mi · 32,901 people · home $424,800
- Albion, WA19.0 mi · 550 people · home $230,700
- Colfax, WA20.1 mi · 2,782 people · home $245,300
Potlatch questions
Is Potlatch, Idaho a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Potlatch scores better for retirees than 74% of Idaho towns and quieter than 91%. 11.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.3).
How much does a house cost in Potlatch?
The median owner-occupied home in Potlatch is valued at $244,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $76,607, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Potlatch?
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 25.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 24.5 inches of precipitation a year and 41.3 inches of snow.
Does Potlatch get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Potlatch 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)