The Town FilesSmelterville, Idaho
City in Shoshone County · population 670 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $154,400
- Household income
- $48,806
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 52 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 54.2
Smelterville is a city of 670 people in Shoshone County, Idaho. The median home is worth $154,400, below the typical Idaho town ($291,900). It ranks hipper than 93% of Idaho towns, quieter than 81% of Idaho towns, better for first-time buyers than 76% of Idaho towns.
How Smelterville 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 Smelterville is worth $154,400, below the typical Idaho town ($291,900). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $48,806, which is more affordable than 92% of Idaho towns. Median rent is $815 a month. 77.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Smelterville | Typical Idaho town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $154,400 | $291,900 |
| Median rent | $815 | $1,029 |
| Median household income | $48,806 | $66,924 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 77.7% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1946 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.1% | — |
Who lives in Smelterville
| People | Smelterville | Typical Idaho town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 54.2 | 36.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 32.9% | 16.5% |
| Under 18 | 14.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 0.0% | 21.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.5% | 11.4% |
| Veterans | 8.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 21.7% | 8.4% |
| Average commute | 21.9 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.0% | 91.2% |
Weather in Smelterville
July highs average 84.9°F and January lows 21.7°F. About 33.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 52.4 inches of snow (typical Idaho town: 38.8 in). Expect about 21 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 147 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Smelterville since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Idaho town. The strongest, an F0, struck on June 5, 1987 about 2.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 5, 1987.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 3 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 3, 1963.
Severe weather in Shoshone County since 1996
Shoshone County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2026 | Straight-Line Winds | DR-4905: Straight-Line Winds |
| June 10, 2024 | Flood | DR-4789: Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| March 4, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4589: Straight-Line Winds |
| April 9, 2020 | Biological | DR-4534: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3467: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Shoshone County
Shoshone County had 4,834 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,791 a year. Unemployment was 5.2% in 2023; in Smelterville itself the ACS puts it at 5.4%.
Towns near Smelterville
- Kellogg, ID2.2 mi · 2,314 people · home $250,600
- Pinehurst, ID2.6 mi · 1,679 people · home $291,900
- Osburn, ID8.7 mi · 1,567 people · home $205,900
- Silverton, ID10.7 mi · 594 people · home $286,800
- Wallace, ID12.9 mi · 791 people · home $232,700
- Mullan, ID18.5 mi · 646 people · home $210,600
- St. Maries, ID24.3 mi · 2,357 people · home $236,300
Smelterville questions
Is Smelterville, Idaho a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Smelterville scores better for retirees than 66% of Idaho towns and quieter than 81%. 32.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 54.2).
How much does a house cost in Smelterville?
The median owner-occupied home in Smelterville is valued at $154,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $48,806, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $815 a month.
What is the weather like in Smelterville?
July highs average 84.9°F and January lows 21.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.9 inches of precipitation a year and 52.4 inches of snow.
Does Smelterville get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Smelterville since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on June 5, 1987. 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)