City profile · Idaho · Census ACS 2023

Cottonwood, ID

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Cottonwood - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

1,138
Residents
$56,250
Median income
$206,800
Median home
$973
Median rent (state)

Cottonwood - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Cottonwood places in the 29th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

29th
percentile, household income
45th
percentile, home value
12th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Cottonwood, ID

1,138 people live in Cottonwood, Idaho - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Cottonwood households earn a median of $56,250 annually, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 14.5%. Typical homes in Cottonwood are valued around $206,800, and the median resident age is 36.8 years. Educational attainment runs 23.6% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 54.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 3 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Stable), up 0% from five years earlier. NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 47.6°F with 22.6 inches of precipitation per year and 61.4 inches of snowfall.

Living costs in Idaho run below the national norm: the state registers 95.5 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $973 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Idaho run around $170, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 3.1 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very Low).

Population

1,138 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Idaho

Median Household Income

$56,250 /yr

Poverty 14.5%

Cost of Living Index (state)

95.5 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Idaho average

How does Cottonwood compare to other US cities?

Cottonwood measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 29% higher than other cities
Home value 45% pricier than other cities
Median rent 12% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Cottonwood against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Idaho only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Idaho-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Cottonwood near the bottom of Idaho's cities

Among the 215 Idaho cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Cottonwood ranks #169 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Cottonwood only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#133 of 206
35th percentile in Idaho
Median Gross Rent
#169 of 215
0th percentile in Idaho
Median Home Value
#132 of 204
35th percentile in Idaho
Poverty Rate
#39 of 215
81st percentile in Idaho
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#77 of 215
63rd percentile in Idaho

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Idaho only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

29thIncome percentile

29th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Cottonwood's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$206,800 Among the most affordable more affordable than 55% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). This entry sits in this band. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Cottonwood $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Cottonwood, ID Cottonwood, ID's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Cottonwood, ID-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Cottonwood, ID median $56,250/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Cottonwood, ID's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Cottonwood, ID. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 23.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 14.5%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 54.4%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
1,138
Median Income
$56,250
Median Home Value
$206,800
Median Age
36.8
Poverty Rate
14.5%
Labor force participation
54.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
23.6%

Climate

Avg Temperature
47.6°F
Annual Precipitation
22.6"
Annual Snowfall
61.4"

Schools

Total Schools
2
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
800 residents850 residents900 residents950 residents 202020212022202320242025 820 residents 921 residents ▲ +12.3%
Cottonwood's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Stable
Total Permits (2024)
3
housing units authorized
Single-Family
3
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
2.6
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 3
2020 2
2021 1
2022 2
2023 3
2024 3

Permit volume increased 0% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
92.6%
Carpool
1.7%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.1%
Work from Home
3.8%
Other
0.8%

Based on 476 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Idaho - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$80
avg/month
Natural Gas
$50
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$40
avg/month
Total Utilities
$170
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Idaho state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Idaho state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Cottonwood sits in

Cost of Living Index
95.5
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$973/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
3.1 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Idaho

Wallace
1,127 people
Riverside
1,126 people
Greenleaf
1,152 people
Carey
1,197 people
Hagerman
1,198 people
Kootenai
1,076 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Cottonwood's 1,138 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Nassau, NY
1,138 people
Maurertown, VA
1,138 people
Ames Lake, WA
1,138 people
Greenfield, IL
1,137 people
Oran, MO
1,137 people
Hurley, NM
1,137 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Cottonwood's $56,250 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

St. Florian, AL
$56,250 median income
Koliganek, AK
$56,250 median income
Newhalen, AK
$56,250 median income
St. Michael, AK
$56,250 median income
Fort Defiance, AZ
$56,250 median income
Taylor, AR
$56,250 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Cottonwood, ID Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Cottonwood, ID - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 95.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1.4% White 95.6% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.1% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 4.3% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Cottonwood compares to nearby Idaho cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Cottonwood (this city) 1,138 $56,250
Wallace 1,127 $50,526
Riverside 1,126 $103,125
Greenleaf 1,152 $64,375
Census ACS 5-year FIPS ID NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Cottonwood, ID?

What is the population of Cottonwood, ID? +

Cottonwood, ID has a population of 1,138 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Cottonwood, ID? +

Median annual household income in Cottonwood runs $56,250, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Cottonwood? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Cottonwood; the closest available measure is the Idaho state average, a cost of living index of 95.5 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Idaho vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Cottonwood, ID? +

The median home value in Cottonwood is $206,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Cottonwood? +

Cottonwood has an average annual temperature of 47.6°F, 22.6 inches of precipitation, and 61.4 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.