1st Advantage MortgageBear Lake County households have a median income of $75,260 and median rent of $632 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Idaho license first.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Bear Lake County
- Renting and owning in Bear Lake County
- Household income in Bear Lake County
- How Bear Lake County residents earn a living
- Bear Lake County next to its neighbors
- Bear Lake County towns compared
- Budget math at the Bear Lake County median
- Borrowing situations common in Bear Lake County
- Bear Lake County households compared
- Who licenses lenders for Bear Lake County residents
- Steps before you apply in Bear Lake County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Bear Lake County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Bear Lake County's population at 6,650; only 35 of Idaho's 44 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 976 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 7 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Bear Lake County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 6 places in the county (5 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Montpelier, with about 2,694 residents, or 41% of the county. Because Bear Lake County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
Renting and owning in Bear Lake County
A typical Bear Lake County rental runs $632 a month including utilities, which is 49% below Idaho. By the Census definition, 55% of Bear Lake County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $275,000, about 3.7 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 90%. Half the housing stock was built before 1974.
| Bear Lake County | Idaho | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $632/mo | $1,238/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $275,000 | $418,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 90% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 55% | 47% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 28% | 27% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 3.8% | 6.9% | n/a |
Because most Bear Lake County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral. Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Household income in Bear Lake County
Bear Lake County households have a median income of $75,260 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 11th of 44 in Idaho.
| Band | Bear Lake County | Compared with Idaho |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 21.1% | +2.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 47.1% | +3.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.7% | -2.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.1% | -3.1 pts |
About 21% of households earn under $35,000, while 32% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 7.0%, 4 points lower than the state's 10.6%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.404 here. None of these numbers decides a Bear Lake County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
How Bear Lake County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Bear Lake County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 23% of workers, followed by construction (13%). Compared with Idaho, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (12% against 4%). The survey's unemployment rate for Bear Lake County averages 2.6% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.7%). Long commutes are common here: 28% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 1.7% of the total (3.7% statewide).
| Top industries | Bear Lake County share | +/- vs Idaho |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.7% | +0.3 pts |
| Construction | 12.8% | +3.4 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 12.2% | +8.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.5% | -2.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.5% | +0.1 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.5% | +3.4 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Bear Lake County next to its neighbors
Six nearby counties, 27 to 54 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $66,499 in Bannock County to $89,330 in Lincoln County; 3 of these neighbors top Bear Lake County's median. The list crosses into Utah, Wyoming, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear Lake County | - | $75,260 | $632/mo | 90% |
| Franklin County, ID | 27 mi | $71,950 | $894/mo | 78% |
| Lincoln County, WY | 33 mi | $89,330 | $960/mo | 77% |
| Caribou County, ID | 36 mi | $68,782 | $847/mo | 82% |
| Cache County, UT | 44 mi | $81,665 | $1,213/mo | 64% |
| Rich County, UT | 46 mi | $79,009 | $760/mo | 85% |
| Bannock County, ID | 54 mi | $66,499 | $960/mo | 70% |
Bear Lake County towns compared
Here are the 6 most populous of the county's 6 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 67% of Bear Lake County residents live in one of the 6. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $61,375 in Montpelier to $95,000 in Paris. Rent is cheapest in Montpelier ($535) and steepest in Paris ($1,069). This guide covers each of the 6 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montpelier | city | 2,694 | $61,375 | $535 | 3 mi |
| Georgetown | city | 739 | $70,179 | $950 | 13 mi |
| Paris | city | 562 | $95,000 | $1,069 | 6 mi |
| Bloomington | city | 255 | $79,583 | n/a | 8 mi |
| St. Charles | city | 145 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
| Bennington | CDP | 92 | $84,167 | n/a | 7 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Budget math at the Bear Lake County median
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Bear Lake County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Median income divided by twelve: $6,272 before taxes
- Median rent: $632, or 10 cents of every gross dollar
- With a 36% ceiling, about $1,626 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Bear Lake County's.
Borrowing situations common in Bear Lake County
A few patterns in the Bear Lake County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Commuter costs. 28% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- 55% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
Bear Lake County households compared
Degree holders: 22% of adults over 25. About 7% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Bear Lake County | Idaho | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.5 | 37.3 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.6% | 31.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.6% | 8.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.9% | 9.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 1.7% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.2% | 13.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 7.0% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.6% | 3.7% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Bear Lake County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 38.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 23.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 11.1% |
| 60+ min | 16.8% |
Who licenses lenders for Bear Lake County residents
The Idaho Department of Finance is the place to verify any lender's Idaho license. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. The Idaho guide covers state rules in more detail.
Steps before you apply in Bear Lake County
Quick steps for Bear Lake County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Verify the Idaho license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Idaho guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Bear Lake County earn?
The median is $75,260; 32% earn $100,000 or more and 21% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
What do renters pay in Bear Lake County?
$632 a month at the median, about 10% of median household income.
I own my home in Bear Lake County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 90% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Does this page cover Montpelier?
Yes, along with the other 5 Census places in Bear Lake County, such as Georgetown, Paris, Bloomington.
Does living in Bear Lake County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Bear Lake County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.