Kootenai County
ID · Pop. 177,736 · Mixed County
Kootenai County sits in Idaho across 1,238 square miles, home to 177,736 people at 143.6 per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated moderate, built on hay, wheat, haylage. A median home price of $467,000 and an effective property tax rate of 0.47% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 6b with a 174-day growing season, average summer highs of 78.8°F and average winter lows of 25.8°F. Annual rainfall averages 25.7 inches, generally adequate for the region's crops and pasture. Kootenai Health is 4.7 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 91.9% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, wildfire risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A low effective property tax rate of 0.47% holds annual carrying costs down.
- Broadband reaches 91.9% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- Kootenai Health, with an emergency room, is just 4.7 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
- A low poverty rate of 9.3% signals a relatively stable local economy.
Cons
- Wildfire risk is very high, requiring defensible space, fire-resistant construction, and an evacuation plan.
- Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
- A median home price of $467,000 raises the cost of entry relative to more affordable rural markets.
At a glance
Kootenai County, ID is a challenging place to homestead on the data.
- Homestead score
- 39/100
- Median home price
- $467k
- Property tax
- 0.47%
- Growing season
- 174 days (zone 6b)
- Annual rainfall
- 25.7"
- Broadband
- 91.9%
- Nearest hospital
- Kootenai Health, 4.7 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Kootenai County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Kootenai County?
- Kootenai County is in USDA hardiness zone 6b with a 174-day growing season, average summer highs of 78.8°F, and average winter lows of 25.8°F. The established crops are hay, wheat, haylage.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $467,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.47%. Per-acre raw-land prices vary widely by parcel here, so check active listings for current rates.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 91.9% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Kootenai Health is 4.7 miles away and includes an emergency room; there are 4 hospitals in the county.
Explore Idaho Resources
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More counties in Idaho
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The closest counties to Kootenai County by distance, including across state lines.
Data sources
Verified
Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.
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