The Town FilesSalmon, Idaho
City in Lemhi County · population 3,119 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $235,500
- Household income
- $42,844
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 22 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 46.8
Salmon is a city of 3,119 people in Lemhi County, Idaho. The median home is worth $235,500, below the typical Idaho town ($291,900). It ranks better for retirees than 86% of Idaho towns, quieter than 84% of Idaho towns, hipper than 79% of Idaho towns.
How Salmon 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 Salmon is worth $235,500, below the typical Idaho town ($291,900). Homes cost about 5.5 times the median household income of $42,844, which is more affordable than 23% of Idaho towns. Median rent is $590 a month. 66.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Salmon | Typical Idaho town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $235,500 | $291,900 |
| Median rent | $590 | $1,029 |
| Median household income | $42,844 | $66,924 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.5× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 66.5% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.2% | — |
Who lives in Salmon
| People | Salmon | Typical Idaho town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.8 | 36.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.2% | 16.5% |
| Under 18 | 15.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.3% | 21.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.1% | 11.4% |
| Veterans | 6.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.2% | — |
| Work from home | 4.1% | 8.4% |
| Average commute | 12.5 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.8% | 91.2% |
Weather in Salmon
July highs average 86.3°F and January lows 11.0°F. About 9.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 22.0 inches of snow (typical Idaho town: 38.8 in). Expect about 25 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 181 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Salmon since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Idaho town. The strongest, an F1, struck on June 15, 1987 about 0.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 15, 1987.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 11 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on August 7, 2016.
Severe weather in Lemhi County since 1996
Lemhi County has been included in 5 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 9, 2020 | Biological | DR-4534: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3467: Covid-19 |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3244: Hurricane Katrina |
| September 1, 2000 | Fire | DR-1341: Wildfires |
| February 16, 1984 | Snowstorm | DR-697: Ice Jams And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Lemhi County
Lemhi County had 2,720 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,342 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Salmon itself the ACS puts it at 3%.
Public schools in Salmon
5 public schools with 751 students, about 15.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| SALMON JR/SR HIGH SCHOOL | 6-12 | 383 | 16.7 |
| SALMON PIONEER PRIMARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 288 | 14.4 |
| FERN-WATERS PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL (charter) | 4-8 | 78 | 13.0 |
| SALMON ALTERNATIVE HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 2 | — |
| SALMON JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER | 1-12 | — | — |
Salmon questions
Is Salmon, Idaho a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Salmon scores better for retirees than 86% of Idaho towns and quieter than 84%. 24.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.8).
How much does a house cost in Salmon?
The median owner-occupied home in Salmon is valued at $235,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $42,844, so homes cost about 5.5 times income. Median rent is $590 a month.
What is the weather like in Salmon?
July highs average 86.3°F and January lows 11.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 9.5 inches of precipitation a year and 22.0 inches of snow.
Does Salmon get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Salmon since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on June 15, 1987. The typical Idaho town has had 2.
- 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)