The Town FilesPriest River, Idaho
City in Bonner County · population 1,696 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $299,100
- Household income
- $58,782
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 63 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 43.4
Priest River is a city of 1,696 people in Bonner County, Idaho. The median home is worth $299,100, close to the typical Idaho town ($291,900). It ranks better for cycling than 93% of Idaho towns, better for a vacation home than 82% of Idaho towns.
How Priest River 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 Priest River is worth $299,100, close to the typical Idaho town ($291,900). Homes cost about 5.1 times the median household income of $58,782, which is more affordable than 32% of Idaho towns. Median rent is $817 a month. 74.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Priest River | Typical Idaho town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $299,100 | $291,900 |
| Median rent | $817 | $1,029 |
| Median household income | $58,782 | $66,924 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.1× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 74.2% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.9% | — |
Who lives in Priest River
| People | Priest River | Typical Idaho town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.4 | 36.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.9% | 16.5% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.5% | 21.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.0% | 11.4% |
| Veterans | 7.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.2% | — |
| Work from home | 10.0% | 8.4% |
| Average commute | 28.4 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 76.2% | 91.2% |
Weather in Priest River
July highs average 84.2°F and January lows 23.7°F. About 27.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 62.5 inches of snow (typical Idaho town: 38.8 in). Expect about 22 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 169 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Priest River since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Idaho town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on April 9, 1991 about 0.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 9, 1991.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 6 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 10, 2003.
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 Priest River itself the ACS puts it at 1.9%.
Public schools in Priest River
3 public schools with 804 students, about 15.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| PRIEST RIVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 373 | 18.7 |
| PRIEST RIVER LAMANNA HIGH | 9-12 | 274 | 13.0 |
| PRIEST RIVER JR HIGH SCHOOL | 7-8 | 157 | 15.7 |
Towns near Priest River
- Newport, WA6.9 mi · 2,114 people · home $303,200
- Dover, ID14.6 mi · 752 people · home $719,100
- Spirit Lake, ID15.2 mi · 2,337 people · home $436,600
- Sandpoint, ID17.3 mi · 8,639 people · home $465,600
- Athol, ID18.8 mi · 709 people · home $367,700
- Ponderay, ID18.9 mi · 1,289 people · home $436,700
- Kootenai, ID19.9 mi · 941 people · home $370,800
- Rathdrum, ID27.0 mi · 9,211 people · home $444,100
Priest River questions
Is Priest River, Idaho a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Priest River scores better for retirees than 57% of Idaho towns and quieter than 69%. 24.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.4).
How much does a house cost in Priest River?
The median owner-occupied home in Priest River is valued at $299,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,782, so homes cost about 5.1 times income. Median rent is $817 a month.
What is the weather like in Priest River?
July highs average 84.2°F and January lows 23.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 27.5 inches of precipitation a year and 62.5 inches of snow.
Does Priest River get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Priest River since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on April 9, 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)