1st Advantage MortgageIn Nez Perce County, Idaho, the typical household earns $72,599 a year and the typical rent is $1,015. 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
- Nez Perce County, ID: the basics
- Paychecks and income spread in Nez Perce County
- The Nez Perce County job picture
- What it costs to live in Nez Perce County
- Towns and communities in Nez Perce County
- How Nez Perce County compares with nearby counties
- Room for a loan payment in Nez Perce County
- Reading the Nez Perce County data as a borrower
- Nez Perce County households compared
- Licensing and complaints for Nez Perce County
- Checklist for Nez Perce County applicants
- More guides for Nez Perce County
- Frequently asked questions
Nez Perce County, ID: the basics
Roughly 42,697 residents live in Nez Perce County, Idaho, 10th by population among the state's 44 counties and county equivalents. Packed into 848 square miles, that is close to 50 residents for every square mile of land. It is one of the counties that make up the Lewiston, ID-WA metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Of the 5 Census places inside Nez Perce County, Lewiston leads by population with about 34,651; 4 of the 5 are incorporated.
Paychecks and income spread in Nez Perce County
Half of Nez Perce County households take in less than $72,599 a year and half take in more, 7% below the Idaho median of $77,800. In the state ranking that is 14th of 44.
| Households earning | Nez Perce County | +/- vs Idaho |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.7% | +6.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.2% | -3.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 27.0% | -1.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.2% | -2.1 pts |
Some 26% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 34% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 12.2%, 2 points higher than the state's 10.6%. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
The Nez Perce County job picture
The biggest employer of Nez Perce County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 23% of workers, followed by manufacturing (17%). Manufacturing stands out: 17% of workers here, versus 9% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 2.6% in Nez Perce County. About 80% drive to work alone and 7% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 5.7% of the total (3.7% statewide).
| Industry | Share of Nez Perce County workers | vs Idaho |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.8% | +0.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 17.3% | +7.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.1% | +1.5 pts |
| Construction | 7.7% | -1.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.5% | -1.2 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 7.2% | +1.4 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 Nez Perce County
Renters in Nez Perce County pay a median of $1,015 a month, 18% below the Idaho figure of $1,238. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 44% of renter households here. Home values center on $334,700, or 4.6 years of median income. Owners occupy 70% of homes.
| Home costs | Nez Perce County | Idaho | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,015/mo | $1,238/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $334,700 | $418,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 70% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 44% | 47% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 27% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 10.4% | 6.9% | n/a |
Towns and communities in Nez Perce County
5 Census places fall mainly inside Nez Perce County; the 5 biggest are below. They account for 36,440 residents, leaving about 15% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. None of the 5 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lewiston | city | 34,651 | $72,197 | $1,027 | 12 mi |
| Lapwai | city | 1,021 | $57,439 | $1,017 | 5 mi |
| Culdesac | city | 411 | $49,167 | $892 | 5 mi |
| Peck | city | 194 | $58,182 | $867 | 19 mi |
| Sweetwater | CDP | 163 | $126,875 | n/a | 3 mi |
How Nez Perce County compares with nearby counties
Distances run center to center, from Lewis County at 17 miles out to Columbia County at 55. Asotin County leads the group on income ($72,283), Lewis County trails ($51,615), and Nez Perce County out-earns 6 of the six. The list crosses into Washington, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nez Perce County | - | $72,599 | $1,015/mo | 70% |
| Lewis County, ID | 17 mi | $51,615 | $737/mo | 76% |
| Asotin County, WA | 25 mi | $72,283 | $1,043/mo | 73% |
| Latah County, ID | 34 mi | $65,424 | $929/mo | 59% |
| Garfield County, WA | 38 mi | $64,884 | $791/mo | 77% |
| Whitman County, WA | 54 mi | $55,406 | $1,049/mo | 47% |
| Columbia County, WA | 55 mi | $71,810 | $985/mo | 78% |
Room for a loan payment in Nez Perce County
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Nez Perce County's medians:
- Median income divided by twelve: $6,050 before taxes
- 17% goes to median rent ($1,015)
- $1,405: what a 40% ratio leaves once rent is paid
If your rent is above $1,015, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Reading the Nez Perce County data as a borrower
Based on the Nez Perce County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Nez Perce County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Nez Perce County borrower sees (free reports).
Nez Perce County households compared
College graduates make up 27% of the adult population. About 8% go without health insurance.
| Nez Perce County | Idaho | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.2 | 37.3 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 27.1% | 31.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.2% | 8.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.7% | 9.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.7% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.3% | 13.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.2% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.6% | 3.7% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 53.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 33.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 5.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.9% |
| 60+ min | 2.9% |
Licensing and complaints for Nez Perce County
Nez Perce County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Idaho Department of Finance. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. More on Idaho: Idaho personal loans.
Checklist for Nez Perce County applicants
Quick steps for Nez Perce County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Nez Perce County-area credit union.
- A Idaho license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
More guides for Nez Perce County
For statewide rules and data, see the Idaho guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Nez Perce County a high-income county?
Its $72,599 median ranks 14th of 44 Idaho counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Nez Perce County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,015 against $1,238 statewide, and 44% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I own my home in Nez Perce County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 70% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
What are the biggest places in Nez Perce County?
By population: Lewiston, Lapwai, Culdesac, Peck, Sweetwater. The county has 5 Census places in all.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Nez Perce County or elsewhere in Idaho, the same rules apply.