Residents of North Central Idaho reported lower household incomes than those in any other region of the state, according to a statewide housing survey commissioned by U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo’s office.
The survey, conducted between March and May of 2025, drew responses from more than 5,000 Idahoans statewide. After removing duplicate and incomplete submissions, analysts worked with a final dataset of 5,014 responses spread across six Idaho regions.
North Central Idaho Stands Out on Income Figures
Among the findings, 24.4 percent of North Central Idaho respondents reported monthly household incomes below $4,000 — the highest share of any region surveyed. That figure points to persistent financial pressure in communities along the Clearwater River corridor and surrounding areas, where housing costs have risen alongside broader statewide trends.
The survey did not limit itself to income data alone, covering a range of housing-related concerns across Idaho’s diverse geographic regions. North Central Idaho’s income numbers, however, placed the region at the bottom of the statewide income distribution captured in the poll.
Housing Pressures in the Lewis-Clark Valley
The results reflect challenges that residents of Lewiston and Nez Perce County have voiced in recent years, as housing affordability has become a central issue for working families in the Lewis-Clark Valley. Community programs aimed at expanding economic opportunity — such as the workforce development initiatives at Lewis-Clark State College — represent one avenue local institutions are pursuing to broaden financial footing for area residents.
The survey was administered through Sen. Crapo’s office as part of a broader effort to gather constituent data on housing conditions across Idaho.
What Comes Next
It remains to be seen how Sen. Crapo’s office will use the survey results to shape federal housing or economic policy. With Idaho’s legislative session now concluded for 2026, state-level responses to the data may need to wait until lawmakers reconvene. Local officials and community organizations in Nez Perce County are expected to continue monitoring housing affordability as a priority issue heading into the coming year. For additional Idaho statewide coverage, visit idahonews.co.