The Town FilesKetchum, Idaho
City in Blaine County · population 3,555 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $824,000
- Household income
- $93,046
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 102 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 58.3
Ketchum is a city of 3,555 people in Blaine County, Idaho. The median home is worth $824,000, above the typical Idaho town ($291,900). It ranks better for cycling than 100% of Idaho towns, better for retirees than 99% of Idaho towns, quieter than 99% of Idaho towns.
- #1 in The 15 Best Small Towns to Retire in Idaho
- #1 in The 11 Quietest Small Towns in Idaho
- #4 in The 50 Best Small Towns to Retire in America With the Fewest Tornadoes
- #4 in The 50 Best Places to Retire in America With the Fewest Tornadoes
- #7 in The 50 Quietest Small Towns in America
- #7 in The 50 Quietest Places in America
How Ketchum ranks
Percentile among Idaho towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Idaho towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Ketchum is worth $824,000, above the typical Idaho town ($291,900). Homes cost about 8.9 times the median household income of $93,046, which is more affordable than 1% of Idaho towns. Median rent is $1,186 a month. 72.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ketchum | Typical Idaho town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $824,000 | $291,900 |
| Median rent | $1,186 | $1,029 |
| Median household income | $93,046 | $66,924 |
| Home value ÷ income | 8.9× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 72.7% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1982 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 43.2% | — |
Who lives in Ketchum
| People | Ketchum | Typical Idaho town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 58.3 | 36.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.7% | 16.5% |
| Under 18 | 3.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 63.2% | 21.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.2% | 11.4% |
| Veterans | 6.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.9% | — |
| Work from home | 18.7% | 8.4% |
| Average commute | 13.4 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.4% | 91.2% |
Weather in Ketchum
July highs average 80.0°F and January lows 8.0°F. About 17.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 102.0 inches of snow (typical Idaho town: 38.8 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 229 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Ketchum since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 2 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on May 26, 2019.
Severe weather in Blaine County since 1996
Blaine County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 5, 2022 | Fire | FM-5452: Ross Fork Fire |
| April 9, 2020 | Biological | DR-4534: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3467: Covid-19 |
| August 27, 2017 | Flood | DR-4333: Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| August 15, 2013 | Fire | FM-5045: Beaver Creek Fire |
Jobs and pay in Blaine County
Blaine County had 14,374 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,713 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Ketchum itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Ketchum
1 public school with 463 students, about 11.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| ERNEST HEMINGWAY STEAM SCHOOL | PK-8 | 463 | 11.9 |
Towns near Ketchum
- Hailey, ID12.6 mi · 9,161 people · home $637,800
- Bellevue, ID16.2 mi · 2,560 people · home $539,000
Ketchum questions
Is Ketchum, Idaho a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ketchum scores better for retirees than 99% of Idaho towns and quieter than 99%. 26.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 58.3).
How much does a house cost in Ketchum?
The median owner-occupied home in Ketchum is valued at $824,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $93,046, so homes cost about 8.9 times income. Median rent is $1,186 a month.
What is the weather like in Ketchum?
July highs average 80.0°F and January lows 8.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 17.3 inches of precipitation a year and 102.0 inches of snow.
Does Ketchum get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Ketchum in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)