1st Advantage MortgageShoshone County households have a median income of $55,527 and median rent of $943 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Shoshone County at a glance
- The Shoshone County job picture
- How much Shoshone County households make
- Shoshone County housing compared with Idaho
- Shoshone County towns compared
- The counties around Shoshone County
- Budget math at the Shoshone County median
- What the numbers mean for Shoshone County borrowers
- Shoshone County households compared
- A Shoshone County borrower's checklist
- Licensing and complaints for Shoshone County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Shoshone County at a glance
Shoshone County is home to about 13,785 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 24th most populous of 44 county-level areas in Idaho. Spread over 2,637 square miles, that works out to roughly 5.2 residents per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Shoshone County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 8 Census places inside Shoshone County, Kellogg leads by population with about 2,307; 7 of the 8 are incorporated.
The Shoshone County job picture
The biggest employer of Shoshone County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 19% of workers, followed by retail trade (19%). Retail trade stands out: 19% of workers here, versus 12% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 5.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 18% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 8% work from home. Households without a car make up 4.5% of the total (3.7% statewide).
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Shoshone County | Gap to Idaho |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 18.8% | -3.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 18.5% | +6.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 12.6% | +3.9 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 9.1% | +5.1 pts |
| Construction | 8.7% | -0.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.6% | -3.9 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Shoshone County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
How much Shoshone County households make
Shoshone County households have a median income of $55,527 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 39th of 44 in Idaho.
| Yearly household income | Shoshone County | Gap to Idaho |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 28.1% | +9.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 51.8% | +8.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 17.3% | -10.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.7% | -6.5 pts |
Some 28% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 20% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 13.1% of Shoshone County residents in poverty, against 10.6% across Idaho. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.392 here. For a borrower in Shoshone 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.
Shoshone County housing compared with Idaho
A typical Shoshone County rental runs $943 a month including utilities, which is 24% below Idaho. By the Census definition, 41% of Shoshone County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $267,400, about 4.8 times the median household income. 74% of Shoshone County households own their home and 26% rent. The median home was built in 1959, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Housing | Shoshone County | Idaho statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $943/mo | $1,238/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $267,400 | $418,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 74% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 41% | 47% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 27% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
Shoshone County towns compared
8 Census places fall mainly inside Shoshone County; the 8 biggest are below. They account for 9,565 residents, leaving about 31% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $48,806 in Smelterville to $90,074 in Silverton. Median rent ranges from $727 in Wallace to $1,250 in Mullan. Live in one of these Shoshone County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kellogg | city | 2,307 | $50,625 | $989 | 17 mi |
| Pinehurst | city | 2,120 | $68,676 | $915 | 21 mi |
| Osburn | city | 1,620 | $50,673 | $902 | 12 mi |
| Wallace | city | 1,027 | $51,492 | $727 | 9 mi |
| Mullan | city | 890 | $68,125 | $1,250 | 9 mi |
| Smelterville | city | 668 | $48,806 | $815 | 19 mi |
| Silverton | CDP | 652 | $90,074 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Wardner | city | 281 | $37,122 | $1,125 | 17 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
The counties around Shoshone County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Shoshone County's, from 36 to 54 miles away. Income ranges from $57,476 in Sanders County to $81,861 in Kootenai County; all six of these neighbors top Shoshone County's median. The list crosses into Montana, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shoshone County | - | $55,527 | $943/mo | 74% |
| Benewah County, ID | 36 mi | $59,794 | $875/mo | 73% |
| Mineral County, MT | 40 mi | $63,450 | $801/mo | 81% |
| Sanders County, MT | 43 mi | $57,476 | $820/mo | 81% |
| Kootenai County, ID | 44 mi | $81,861 | $1,492/mo | 71% |
| Clearwater County, ID | 48 mi | $60,000 | $875/mo | 83% |
| Latah County, ID | 54 mi | $65,424 | $929/mo | 59% |
Budget math at the Shoshone County median
Here is the Shoshone County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $4,627 a month: gross income for a household at the Shoshone County median
- Median rent: $943, or 20 cents of every gross dollar
- At 35%, room after rent is $677 a month
- Under a 45% cap, $2,082 total minus rent leaves $1,139
If your rent is above $943, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
What the numbers mean for Shoshone County borrowers
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Shoshone County borrowers.
- Keeping the car running. At 18% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Shoshone County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Shoshone County borrower sees (free reports).
Shoshone County households compared
College graduates make up 13% of the adult population. 9.2% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Shoshone County | Idaho | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.8 | 37.3 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 12.7% | 31.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.1% | 8.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.2% | 9.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.5% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.1% | 13.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.1% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.3% | 3.7% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 53.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 18.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 9.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.4% |
| 60+ min | 8.7% |
A Shoshone County borrower's checklist
Steps that save money for Shoshone County residents:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- A Idaho license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Licensing and complaints for Shoshone County
Consumer lenders serving Shoshone County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Idaho that is the Idaho Department of Finance. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. Statewide data and rules: Idaho guide.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Idaho guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Shoshone County a high-income county?
Its $55,527 median ranks 39th of 44 Idaho counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Shoshone County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $943 a month; 41% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Should Shoshone County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 74% of Shoshone County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
I live in a small Shoshone County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Kellogg, Pinehurst, Osburn, Wallace, Mullan and 3 more.
Can Shoshone 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.