1st Advantage MortgageThe median Clark County household earns $55,208, and 12% of residents live below the poverty line. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Clark County at a glance
- Income in Clark County compared with Idaho
- The Clark County job picture
- What it costs to live in Clark County
- Towns and communities in Clark County
- The counties around Clark County
- Room for a loan payment in Clark County
- Borrowing situations common in Clark County
- More Clark County figures
- Lender oversight for Clark County
- Steps before you apply in Clark County
- More guides for Clark County
- Frequently asked questions
Clark County at a glance
Clark County is home to about 849 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 44th most populous of 44 county-level areas in Idaho. It covers 1,763 square miles of land, with fewer than one resident per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Dubois is the biggest of its 2 Census places, at roughly 585 people (69% of the county total). Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Clark County figure on this page as a rough guide.
Income in Clark County compared with Idaho
Clark County households have a median income of $55,208 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 40th of 44 in Idaho.
| Households earning | Clark County | +/- vs Idaho |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 34.1% | +15.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 50.2% | +6.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 15.8% | -12.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 0.0% | -9.2 pts |
The spread is wide: 16% of Clark County households make $100,000 or more, and 34% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 11.7%, 1 point higher than the state's 10.6%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.332 here. None of these numbers decides a Clark County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
The Clark County job picture
Agriculture, forestry and mining employs 25% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 19%. Compared with Idaho, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (25% against 4%). Averaged over the five survey years, 2.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are common here: 23% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Top industries | Clark County share | +/- vs Idaho |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 25.5% | +21.5 pts |
| Education and health care | 19.4% | -3.0 pts |
| Public administration | 11.7% | +6.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.5% | -0.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.4% | -2.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.1% | -4.4 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
What it costs to live in Clark County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $773 in Clark County versus $1,238 statewide. 58% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 6% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $216,900, about 3.9 times the median household income. 61% of Clark County households own their home and 39% rent.
| Housing | Clark County | Idaho statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $773/mo | $1,238/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $216,900 | $418,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 61% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 58% | 47% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 55% | 27% | n/a |
When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
Towns and communities in Clark County
Here are the 2 most populous of the county's 2 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 71% of Clark County residents live in one of the 2. None of the 2 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dubois | city | 585 | $48,611 | $770 | 10 mi |
| Spencer | city | 19 | $74,219 | n/a | 10 mi |
The counties around Clark County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Clark County's, from 34 to 68 miles away. 5 of the six report a higher median household income than Clark County; Teton County is highest at $99,805 and Butte County lowest at $53,015. Some neighbors are in Montana. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Clark County resident follows Idaho rules.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clark County | - | $55,208 | $773/mo | 61% |
| Jefferson County, ID | 34 mi | $86,679 | $1,138/mo | 83% |
| Fremont County, ID | 43 mi | $72,683 | $864/mo | 83% |
| Madison County, ID | 49 mi | $60,160 | $1,014/mo | 40% |
| Butte County, ID | 58 mi | $53,015 | $608/mo | 78% |
| Beaverhead County, MT | 64 mi | $61,268 | $837/mo | 66% |
| Teton County, ID | 68 mi | $99,805 | $1,319/mo | 81% |
Room for a loan payment in Clark County
How much room does a median Clark County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $4,601 a month: gross income for a household at the Clark County median
- 17% goes to median rent ($773)
- Under a 40% cap, $1,840 total minus rent leaves $1,067
If your rent is above $773, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Borrowing situations common in Clark County
Based on the Clark County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Uninsured care. 17% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Keeping the car running. At 23% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Clark County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 13% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Rent squeeze. 58% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
More Clark County figures
Degree holders: 20% of adults over 25. About 17% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Clark County | Idaho | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31.1 | 37.3 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.5% | 31.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 25.6% | 8.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 17.1% | 9.1% | 7.8% |
| Work from home | 9.4% | 13.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.7% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.1% | 3.7% | 4.4% |
Lender oversight for Clark County
The Idaho Department of Finance is the place to verify any lender's Idaho license. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. See the Idaho state guide for the statewide picture.
Steps before you apply in Clark County
Before you apply, wherever you live in Clark County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Clark County-area credit union.
- Verify the Idaho license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
More guides for Clark County
The Idaho guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Clark County household make?
About $55,208 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 29% below the Idaho median.
Is Clark County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $773 against $1,238 statewide, and 58% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Does this page cover Dubois?
Yes, along with the other 1 Census place in Clark County, such as Spencer.
Are Clark County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Who regulates personal lenders for Clark County residents?
The Idaho Department of Finance licenses consumer lenders in Idaho; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.