1st Advantage MortgageAbout 71% of Kootenai County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $81,861. Borrow only what the expense needs, pick the shortest affordable term, and walk away from any lender asking a Kootenai County applicant for an upfront fee.
On this page
- First look: Kootenai County, ID
- Employment and commuting in Kootenai County
- Kootenai County against other Idaho counties
- Rent, home values and ownership in Kootenai County
- The $81,861 median and what sits around it
- Towns and communities in Kootenai County
- How Kootenai County compares with nearby counties
- Age, degrees and coverage in Kootenai County
- Local borrowing considerations for Kootenai County
- A Kootenai County household budget, worked through
- Four steps for Kootenai County borrowers
- Who licenses lenders for Kootenai County residents
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
First look: Kootenai County, ID
Roughly 181,996 residents live in Kootenai County, Idaho, 3rd by population among the state's 44 counties and county equivalents. Its 1,238 square miles average 147 people per square mile, by the 2024 Census Gazetteer. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Coeur d'Alene, ID metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 16 places in the county (14 incorporated, 2 census-designated); the largest is Coeur d'Alene, with about 56,447 residents, or 31% of the county.
Employment and commuting in Kootenai County
The biggest employer of Kootenai County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 23% of workers, followed by retail trade (12%). The survey's unemployment rate for Kootenai County averages 3.3% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.7%). 12% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 15% work from home. Only 4.2% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Sector | Kootenai County | Compared with Idaho |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.5% | +0.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.2% | +0.6 pts |
| Construction | 11.0% | +1.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.2% | -0.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.3% | +0.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 7.3% | -2.1 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Kootenai County against other Idaho counties
- On median gross rent, Kootenai County sits near the top of Idaho at $1,492/mo, 2nd highest of 44. High rent is the first thing a lender's ratio will see.
- Few Idaho counties match Kootenai County on population: 181,996 here, 1,934,262 for the state, ranking 3rd highest of 44. A big county has more local lenders, so shopping around is easier.
- Few Idaho counties match Kootenai County on median home value: $518,700 here, $418,600 for the state, ranking 4th highest of 44. Owners with equity have more options, including secured credit, but that puts the house at risk.
- On the share of households earning $100,000 or more, Kootenai County sits near the top of Idaho at 40%, 4th highest of 44. High earners still overpay when they skip comparing offers.
Rent, home values and ownership in Kootenai County
$1,492 a month is the median gross rent in Kootenai County, 21% above the state. Cost-burdened renters, paying 30%-plus of income: 53% in Kootenai County, 47% statewide. Home values center on $518,700, or 6.3 years of median income. Homeowners 71%, renters 29%. Median construction year: 1996.
| Measure | Kootenai County | Idaho | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,492/mo | $1,238/mo | 21% higher |
| Median home value | $518,700 | $418,600 | 24% higher |
| Owners | 71% | 72% | -0.9 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 53% | 47% | +6.2 pts |
| Burdened owners | 31% | 27% | +4.0 pts |
| Vacant units | 11% | 10% | +1.0 pts |
High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
The $81,861 median and what sits around it
Half of Kootenai County households take in less than $81,861 a year and half take in more, 5% above the Idaho median of $77,800.
| Band | Kootenai County | Compared with Idaho |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 18.8% | -0.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.1% | -2.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 31.8% | +3.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.3% | -0.9 pts |
About 19% of households earn under $35,000, while 40% clear $100,000. Poverty rate, Kootenai County: 9.0%; Idaho: 10.6%. Gini index for Kootenai County: 0.430. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Towns and communities in Kootenai County
Places, by size: the top 14 of 16. Roughly 26% of Kootenai County lives outside all of them, in open country or unnamed settlements. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $65,192 in Spirit Lake to $108,750 in Hayden Lake. Median rent ranges from $856 in Dalton Gardens to $1,933 in Hayden Lake. Coeur d'Alene and every other Kootenai County community use this county guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coeur d'Alene | city | 56,447 | $72,338 | $1,468 | 5 mi |
| Post Falls | city | 43,391 | $82,183 | $1,469 | 12 mi |
| Hayden | city | 16,338 | $82,958 | $1,733 | 8 mi |
| Rathdrum | city | 10,874 | $86,563 | $1,459 | 12 mi |
| Dalton Gardens | city | 2,496 | $80,000 | $856 | 5 mi |
| Spirit Lake | city | 1,972 | $65,192 | $1,250 | 22 mi |
| Hauser | city | 932 | $74,792 | n/a | 16 mi |
| Hayden Lake | city | 834 | $108,750 | $1,933 | 7 mi |
| Athol | city | 777 | $70,250 | n/a | 19 mi |
| Rockford Bay | CDP | 336 | $125,192 | n/a | 15 mi |
| Worley | city | 230 | $45,536 | $888 | 22 mi |
| Fernan Lake Village | city | 212 | $125,000 | n/a | 2 mi |
| Huetter | city | 212 | $39,438 | $862 | 7 mi |
| Harrison | city | 190 | $108,194 | $629 | 15 mi |
How Kootenai County compares with nearby counties
Distances run center to center, from Benewah County at 32 miles out to Pend Oreille County at 65. Kootenai County's $81,861 median trails 0 of the six and beats 6; the range runs $55,527 (Shoshone County) to $78,582 (Spokane County). Some neighbors are in Washington. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Kootenai County resident follows Idaho rules.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kootenai County | - | $81,861 | $1,492/mo | 71% |
| Benewah County, ID | 32 mi | $59,794 | $875/mo | 73% |
| Spokane County, WA | 33 mi | $78,582 | $1,283/mo | 64% |
| Shoshone County, ID | 44 mi | $55,527 | $943/mo | 74% |
| Bonner County, ID | 45 mi | $66,979 | $1,122/mo | 78% |
| Latah County, ID | 59 mi | $65,424 | $929/mo | 59% |
| Pend Oreille County, WA | 65 mi | $67,436 | $855/mo | 81% |
Age, degrees and coverage in Kootenai County
30% of Kootenai County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 9.4%, against 9.1% for Idaho.
| Residents | Kootenai County | Difference from Idaho | Difference from middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.9 | +3.6 yrs | -0.6 yrs |
| Bachelor's or higher | 30.0% | -1.8 pts | +7.8 pts |
| No high school diploma | 5.3% | -2.9 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.4% | +0.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
| No vehicle | 4.2% | +0.5 pts | -1.3 pts |
| Work from home | 15.1% | +1.9 pts | +6.5 pts |
| Poverty rate | 9.0% | -1.5 pts | -4.1 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.3% | -0.5 pts | -1.1 pts |
| Minutes to work | Kootenai County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 33.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 39.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.8% |
| 60+ min | 5.2% |
Local borrowing considerations for Kootenai County
Based on the Kootenai County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Six-figure budgets. For the 40% earning $100,000 or more, lifestyle creep, not approval, is the usual problem.
- Tight rental budgets. With 53% of Kootenai County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
A Kootenai County household budget, worked through
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Kootenai County's medians:
- $6,822 a month: gross income for a household at the Kootenai County median
- Housing at the median rent of $1,492 uses 22%
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,441 left for all other debt payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Four steps for Kootenai County borrowers
Quick steps for Kootenai County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- A Idaho license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Who licenses lenders for Kootenai County residents
Before sharing details with a lender, a Kootenai County resident can confirm its license with the Idaho Department of Finance. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. Statewide data and rules: Idaho guide.
Related local guides
Statewide:
Frequently asked questions
Where does Kootenai County rank on income in Idaho?
5th of 44, with a median of $81,861. The state median is $77,800.
How much is rent in Kootenai County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,492 a month; 53% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Can Kootenai County owners borrow against a $518,700 home?
Many can, through a home equity loan or line. It is secured by the house, so compare it with an unsecured personal loan before choosing.
I live near Coeur d'Alene. Which guide is mine?
This one. Coeur d'Alene and the rest of Kootenai County have no separate city guide.
Will a Kootenai County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Idaho as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.