1st Advantage MortgageBonner County households have a median income of $66,979 and median rent of $1,122 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Who lives in Bonner County
- Housing costs in Bonner County
- Income in Bonner County compared with Idaho
- The Bonner County job picture
- The communities that make up Bonner County
- How Bonner County compares with nearby counties
- Bonner County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Reading the Bonner County data as a borrower
- What a median Bonner County budget can carry
- Steps before you apply in Bonner County
- Idaho rules that apply in Bonner County
- More guides for Bonner County
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Bonner County
With an estimated 51,049 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Bonner County ranks 8th of 44 in Idaho for population. Land area is 1,733 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 29 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Bonner County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 12 places in the county (9 incorporated, 3 census-designated); the largest is Sandpoint, with about 9,637 residents, or 19% of the county.
Housing costs in Bonner County
A typical Bonner County rental runs $1,122 a month including utilities, which is 9% below Idaho. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 45% of renter households here. Home values center on $487,900, or 7.3 years of median income. 78% of Bonner County households own their home and 22% rent. The median year built is 1990.
| Measure | Bonner County | Idaho | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,122/mo | $1,238/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $487,900 | $418,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 45% | 47% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 39% | 27% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 11.3% | 6.9% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
Income in Bonner County compared with Idaho
At $66,979, the typical Bonner County household income is 2% above the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Households earning | Bonner County | +/- vs Idaho |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 23.6% | +4.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.8% | +1.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.9% | -5.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.8% | -0.4 pts |
Some 24% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 32% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 11.1%, 1 point higher than the state's 10.6%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.483 (0 is perfect equality). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
The Bonner County job picture
The biggest employer of Bonner County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 17% of workers, followed by retail trade (12%). Compared with Idaho, the county leans toward manufacturing (12% against 9%). The survey's unemployment rate for Bonner County averages 4.8% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.7%). 19% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 12% work from home. Households without a car make up 4.8% of the total (3.7% statewide).
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Bonner County | Gap to Idaho |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 16.7% | -5.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.3% | +0.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.8% | +2.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.4% | +0.8 pts |
| Construction | 11.3% | +2.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.1% | +0.5 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Bonner County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
The communities that make up Bonner County
The table lists the 12 largest of 12 Census places in Bonner County, by population. Together all 12 hold about 17,639 people, so roughly 65% of residents live outside any named place. Dover has the highest median household income on the list ($99,821) and Ponderay the lowest ($51,346), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $817 in Priest River to $1,673 in Kootenai. No Bonner County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 12.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sandpoint | city | 9,637 | $72,289 | $1,125 | 4 mi |
| Priest River | city | 1,778 | $58,782 | $817 | 16 mi |
| Ponderay | city | 1,534 | $51,346 | $1,099 | 4 mi |
| Kootenai | city | 1,022 | $70,885 | $1,673 | 5 mi |
| Clark Fork | city | 990 | $63,813 | $1,065 | 24 mi |
| Dover | city | 792 | $99,821 | $1,333 | 5 mi |
| Blanchard | CDP | 651 | $59,012 | n/a | 28 mi |
| Oldtown | city | 428 | $57,833 | $833 | 20 mi |
| Laclede | CDP | 406 | $51,140 | n/a | 12 mi |
| East Hope | city | 265 | $93,000 | $1,375 | 17 mi |
| Hope | city | 112 | $98,750 | n/a | 16 mi |
| Coolin | CDP | 24 | n/a | n/a | 14 mi |
How Bonner County compares with nearby counties
Distances run center to center, from Boundary County at 31 miles out to Spokane County at 60. Income ranges from $47,143 in Lincoln County to $81,861 in Kootenai County; 5 of these neighbors top Bonner County's median. Some neighbors are in Montana and Washington. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Bonner County resident follows Idaho rules.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bonner County | - | $66,979 | $1,122/mo | 78% |
| Boundary County, ID | 31 mi | $67,237 | $877/mo | 75% |
| Pend Oreille County, WA | 32 mi | $67,436 | $855/mo | 81% |
| Kootenai County, ID | 45 mi | $81,861 | $1,492/mo | 71% |
| Lincoln County, MT | 56 mi | $47,143 | $762/mo | 78% |
| Stevens County, WA | 57 mi | $69,327 | $898/mo | 80% |
| Spokane County, WA | 60 mi | $78,582 | $1,283/mo | 64% |
Bonner County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 29% of adults over 25. About 11% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Bonner County | Idaho | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.1 | 37.3 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 28.6% | 31.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.7% | 8.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 11.1% | 9.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.8% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 12.0% | 13.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.1% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.8% | 3.7% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Bonner County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 41.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 11.0% |
| 60+ min | 7.8% |
Reading the Bonner County data as a borrower
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Bonner County borrowers.
- Uninsured care. 11% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Commuter costs. 19% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Fixed incomes. Bonner County's median age is 48.1. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- 45% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
What a median Bonner County budget can carry
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Bonner County's medians:
- Start: $5,582 gross per month ($66,979 / 12)
- Median rent: $1,122, or 20 cents of every gross dollar
- With a 36% ceiling, about $887 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Steps before you apply in Bonner County
Quick steps for Bonner County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- A Idaho license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Idaho rules that apply in Bonner County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Bonner County borrowers answers to the Idaho Department of Finance. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. Statewide data and rules: Idaho guide.
More guides for Bonner County
The Idaho guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Bonner County household make?
About $66,979 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 14% below the Idaho median.
How does Bonner County rent compare with Idaho?
$1,122 locally versus $1,238 for the state, 9% below.
Which towns does the Bonner County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 12 Census places: Sandpoint, Priest River, Ponderay, Kootenai, Clark Fork.
Does living in Bonner 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 Bonner County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Bonner County?
Start with the Idaho Department of Finance, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.