1st Advantage MortgageIn Lemhi County, Idaho, the typical household earns $53,202 a year and the typical rent is $754. 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
- Lemhi County, ID: the basics
- Work, industries and travel time in Lemhi County
- How much Lemhi County households make
- Housing costs in Lemhi County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Lemhi County
- Debt-to-income at Lemhi County's medians
- Before borrowing in Lemhi County
- Who lives in Lemhi County, in numbers
- Lender oversight for Lemhi County
- Four steps for Lemhi County borrowers
- More guides for Lemhi County
- Frequently asked questions
Lemhi County, ID: the basics
With an estimated 8,249 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Lemhi County ranks 33rd of 44 in Idaho for population. Spread over 4,564 square miles, that works out to roughly 1.8 residents per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Lemhi County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Salmon is the biggest of its 2 Census places, at roughly 3,203 people (39% of the county total). Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Lemhi County figure on this page as a rough guide.
Work, industries and travel time in Lemhi County
By the Census industry count, 19% of employed Lemhi County residents work in education and health care and 15% in retail trade. The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 11% locally and 4% for Idaho. The survey's unemployment rate for Lemhi County averages 2.0% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.7%). 5% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 12% work from home. Households without a car make up 5.4% of the total (3.7% statewide).
| Industry | Share of Lemhi County workers | vs Idaho |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 18.9% | -3.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 15.1% | +3.4 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 11.5% | +7.5 pts |
| Construction | 9.7% | +0.4 pts |
| Other services | 7.8% | +3.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.6% | -2.9 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
How much Lemhi County households make
At $53,202, the typical Lemhi County household income is 19% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 42nd of 44.
| Band | Lemhi County | Compared with Idaho |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 37.9% | +18.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 38.4% | -5.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.3% | -8.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.4% | -4.8 pts |
About 38% of households earn under $35,000, while 24% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 12.8%, 2 points higher than the state's 10.6%. For a borrower in Lemhi County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Housing costs in Lemhi County
Renters in Lemhi County pay a median of $754 a month, 39% below the Idaho figure of $1,238. 57% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 16% spend half or more. With a median value of $326,100, a typical Lemhi County house costs 6.1 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 79%. The median home was built in 1979, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Home costs | Lemhi County | Idaho | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $754/mo | $1,238/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $326,100 | $418,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 79% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 57% | 47% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 36% | 27% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 15.6% | 6.9% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Lemhi County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it. 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?
Neighboring counties at a glance
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Lemhi County's, from 49 to 88 miles away. All of the six report a higher median household income than Lemhi County; Valley County is highest at $76,078 and Clark County lowest at $55,208. Some neighbors are in Montana. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Lemhi County resident follows Idaho rules.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lemhi County | - | $53,202 | $754/mo | 79% |
| Custer County, ID | 49 mi | $67,574 | $691/mo | 77% |
| Beaverhead County, MT | 51 mi | $61,268 | $837/mo | 66% |
| Ravalli County, MT | 80 mi | $71,283 | $1,054/mo | 79% |
| Valley County, ID | 85 mi | $76,078 | $1,117/mo | 82% |
| Clark County, ID | 87 mi | $55,208 | $773/mo | 61% |
| Deer Lodge County, MT | 88 mi | $57,527 | $696/mo | 73% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Lemhi 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 40% of Lemhi County residents live in one of the 2. None of the 2 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salmon | city | 3,203 | $42,844 | $590 | 17 mi |
| Leadore | city | 135 | $30,568 | n/a | 31 mi |
Debt-to-income at Lemhi County's medians
How much room does a median Lemhi County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Median income divided by twelve: $4,434 before taxes
- Median rent: $754, or 17 cents of every gross dollar
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,152 left for all other debt payments
If your rent is above $754, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Before borrowing in Lemhi County
Based on the Lemhi County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Manufactured homes. 16% of Lemhi County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Fixed incomes. Lemhi County's median age is 53.3. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Tight rental budgets. With 57% of Lemhi County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
Who lives in Lemhi County, in numbers
College graduates make up 24% of the adult population. About 6% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Lemhi County | Idaho | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.3 | 37.3 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 24.1% | 31.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.2% | 8.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.1% | 9.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.4% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.8% | 13.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.8% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.0% | 3.7% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 60.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 26.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 8.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.4% |
| 60+ min | 2.6% |
Lender oversight for Lemhi County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Lemhi County, check the Idaho Department of Finance. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. The Idaho guide covers state rules in more detail.
Four steps for Lemhi County borrowers
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Lemhi County-area credit union.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Idaho.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
More guides for Lemhi County
For statewide rules and data, see the Idaho guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Lemhi County household make?
About $53,202 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 32% below the Idaho median.
Is Lemhi County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $754 against $1,238 statewide, and 57% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I own my home in Lemhi County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 79% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
What are the biggest places in Lemhi County?
By population: Salmon, Leadore. The county has 2 Census places in all.
Can Lemhi County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Idaho county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.