1st Advantage MortgageThe median Latah County household earns $65,424, and 18% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Latah County, ID: the basics
- How much Latah County households make
- Housing costs in Latah County
- Employment and commuting in Latah County
- Places inside Latah County
- The counties around Latah County
- A Latah County household budget, worked through
- Who lives in Latah County, in numbers
- Before borrowing in Latah County
- A Latah County borrower's checklist
- Who licenses lenders for Latah County residents
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Latah County, ID: the basics
Latah County is home to about 41,049 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 11th most populous of 44 county-level areas in Idaho. It covers 1,076 square miles of land, or about 38 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Latah County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 11 places in the county (9 incorporated, 2 census-designated); the largest is Moscow, with about 26,286 residents, or 64% of the county.
How much Latah County households make
At $65,424, the typical Latah County household income sits near the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 28th among Idaho's 44 county-level areas.
| Households earning | Latah County | +/- vs Idaho |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.3% | +7.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.4% | +0.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.7% | -5.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.5% | -2.7 pts |
Some 26% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 29% have six-figure incomes. 17.6% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 10.6%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.476 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $65,424 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Housing costs in Latah County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $929 in Latah County versus $1,238 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 53% of renter households here. With a median value of $368,600, a typical Latah County house costs 5.6 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 59% of homes. The median year built is 1980.
| Latah County | Idaho | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $929/mo | $1,238/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $368,600 | $418,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 59% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 53% | 47% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 27% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 10.4% | 6.9% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 8% | 10% | n/a |
Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Employment and commuting in Latah County
By the Census industry count, 35% of employed Latah County residents work in education and health care and 11% in professional and administrative services. Compared with Idaho, the county leans toward education and health care (35% against 22%). The survey's unemployment rate for Latah County averages 6.8% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.7%). Long commutes are the exception here: 9% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Latah County | Gap to Idaho |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 34.9% | +12.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.7% | +0.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.4% | -1.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.5% | +0.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.8% | -0.6 pts |
| Construction | 5.5% | -3.8 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Latah County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Places inside Latah County
Here are the 11 most populous of the county's 11 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 76% of Latah County residents live in one of the 11. Genesee has the highest median household income on the list ($85,673) and Juliaetta the lowest ($52,455), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Juliaetta ($646) and steepest in Genesee ($1,148). Live in one of these Latah County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moscow | city | 26,286 | $57,022 | $927 | 14 mi |
| Genesee | city | 1,265 | $85,673 | $1,148 | 21 mi |
| Troy | city | 960 | $81,375 | $993 | 6 mi |
| Potlatch | city | 922 | $76,607 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Juliaetta | city | 672 | $52,455 | $646 | 17 mi |
| Deary | city | 458 | $65,000 | $1,125 | 8 mi |
| Kendrick | city | 327 | $64,821 | $1,051 | 15 mi |
| Onaway | city | 263 | $78,750 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Bovill | city | 107 | $38,750 | $950 | 16 mi |
| Viola | CDP | 30 | n/a | n/a | 14 mi |
| Princeton | CDP | 25 | n/a | n/a | 8 mi |
The counties around Latah County
Distances run center to center, from Benewah County at 28 miles out to Asotin County at 50. Nez Perce County leads the group on income ($72,599), Lewis County trails ($51,615), and Latah County out-earns 4 of the six. Some neighbors are in Washington. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Latah County resident follows Idaho rules.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Latah County | - | $65,424 | $929/mo | 59% |
| Benewah County, ID | 28 mi | $59,794 | $875/mo | 73% |
| Nez Perce County, ID | 34 mi | $72,599 | $1,015/mo | 70% |
| Whitman County, WA | 38 mi | $55,406 | $1,049/mo | 47% |
| Lewis County, ID | 43 mi | $51,615 | $737/mo | 76% |
| Garfield County, WA | 47 mi | $64,884 | $791/mo | 77% |
| Asotin County, WA | 50 mi | $72,283 | $1,043/mo | 73% |
A Latah County household budget, worked through
How much room does a median Latah County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $65,424 a year is $5,452 of gross monthly income
- 17% goes to median rent ($929)
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,415 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Two-income households and single earners in Latah County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Who lives in Latah County, in numbers
43% of Latah County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 8% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Latah County | All of Idaho | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 30.6 | 37.3 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 43.0% | 31.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 3.5% | 8.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.1% | 9.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.0% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.9% | 13.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 17.6% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.8% | 3.7% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Latah County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 48.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 29.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.3% |
| 60+ min | 3.9% |
Before borrowing in Latah County
What the Latah County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Rent squeeze. 53% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Latah County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
A Latah County borrower's checklist
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Idaho borrowers.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Who licenses lenders for Latah County residents
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Latah County, check the Idaho Department of Finance. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. Statewide data and rules: Idaho guide.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Idaho guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Latah County a high-income county?
Its $65,424 median ranks 28th of 44 Idaho counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Latah County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $929 against $1,238 statewide, and 53% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Which towns does the Latah County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 11 Census places: Moscow, Genesee, Troy, Potlatch, Juliaetta.
Will a Latah County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Idaho as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who regulates personal lenders for Latah 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.