Pocatello vs Twin Falls
Pocatello, Idaho versus Twin Falls, Idaho: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Twin Falls edges out Pocatello on overall objective livability (54 vs 46 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Pocatello | Twin Falls |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $56k | $58k |
| Cost of Living | $44k | $47k |
| Home Value | $206k | $244k |
| Monthly Rent | $790 | $952 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $1k | $1k |
| Property Tax Rate | 0.86% | 0.78% |
| Income Tax | 5.80% | 5.80% |
| Sales Tax | 6.03% | 6.03% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 10.94% | 11.08% |
| Unemployment | 5.4% | 3.1% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 25°F | 29°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 71°F | 73°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.0 in | 9.2 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 29.7 in | 24.2 in |
| Sunny Days | 252 days | 236 days |
| Summer Humidity | 44°F | 41°F |
| Comfortable Days | 23 days | 58 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 38.0 | 23.3 |
| Air Quality | 56 AQI | 27 AQI |
| School Quality | 24.5 | 21.0 |
| Violent Crime | 1557/100k | 1603/100k |
| Property Crime | 1354/100k | 1475/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 56,582 | 52,315 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 34.0 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.25 | 0.29 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 1.03 | 1.02 |
| Political Leaning | R+23 | R+47 |
| White (%) | 81.8% | 76.6% |
| Black (%) | 1.2% | 0.8% |
| Hispanic (%) | 9.6% | 15.1% |
| Asian (%) | 2.2% | 2.5% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 5.3% | 5.0% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 16 min | 17 min |
| Walkability | 8.0/20 | 9.9/20 |
| Airport Distance | 146 mi | 113 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 87.2% | 88.2% |
| Amenities Nearby | 30.40 | 22.75 |
| Park & Nature Access | Limited | Excellent |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Pocatello or Twin Falls more affordable?
- Pocatello has the lower cost of living: its index is $44k, compared with Pocatello's $44k and Twin Falls's $47k. Median rent is $790 in Pocatello versus $952 in Twin Falls.
- Is Pocatello or Twin Falls safer?
- Pocatello has the lower violent crime rate. Pocatello reports 1557/100k and Twin Falls reports 1603/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Pocatello or Twin Falls?
- The median home value is $206k in Pocatello and $244k in Twin Falls, so homes are more affordable in Pocatello.