Pocatello, ID

Census place 1664090 · pop 57,635

D53/ 100
😐 Meh
D−
in ID
📍 Idaho ranks #9 of 50 states →
🏆 Rent$1,052/mo · top 5%
🚽 Broadband88.4% · bottom 28%
💡 Did you know?

The 'Gate City' is home to Idaho State University.

Source ↗
Taxes
0.69% property · US 0.99%6.03% sales · US 7.00%5.30% flat income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

The breakdown — worst first

Broadband access88.4%28

U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities

88.4% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Median household income$60,41829

U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities

$60,418 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Violent crime rate345/100k30

U.S. median 152/100k · worse than most cities

345 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.

Poverty rate14.8%35

U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities

14.8% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Income inequality0.4538

U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities

Gini 0.45 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Unemployment rateCounty-level3.9%39

U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities

3.9% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Poor mental health17.8%40

U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities

17.8% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Property crime rate1607/100k40

U.S. median 964/100k · worse than most cities

1607 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.

Uninsured adults10.6%41

U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities

10.6% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Adult smoking13.3%49

U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities

13.3% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Unhealthy air daysCounty-level2 days51

U.S. median 1 days · better than most cities

2 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Homeownership64.5%52

U.S. median 67.2% · better than most cities

64.5% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Housing cost$271,00052

U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities

$271,000 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Bachelor's degree or higher32.6%55

U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities

32.6% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population growth (5yr)+3.8%56

U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities

+3.8% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Adult obesity33.2%60

U.S. median 36.5% · better than most cities

33.2% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Physical inactivity22.4%65

U.S. median 26.5% · better than most cities

22.4% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Air quality (AQI)County-level39 AQI73

U.S. median 42 AQI · better than most cities

39 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Property-tax burden0.69%74

U.S. median 0.99% · better than most cities

0.69% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level66/10079

U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities

66/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Commute time16 min93

U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities

16 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Rent$1,052/mo95

U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities

$1,052/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Frequently asked

Is Pocatello, ID a good place to live?
By the numbers, Pocatello scores 53/100 — a D (Meh) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 22 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is rent and its weakest is broadband access. Idaho overall ranks #9 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
How safe is Pocatello, ID?
Pocatello reports 345 violent crimes per 100k and 1607 property crimes per 100k — worse than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
Is Pocatello, ID expensive to live in?
Pocatello has a median home value of $271,000 and typical rent around $1,052/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Pocatello, ID?
Its weakest measured area is broadband access (88.4%) — 28/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Pocatello, ID best at?
Its strongest measured area is rent ($1,052/mo) — 95/100, better than most U.S. cities. Fun fact: The 'Gate City' is home to Idaho State University.

Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.