Valley County is a largely rural county in west-central Idaho, extending from the Long Valley and Payette River basin northward into the mountainous forests of the Payette National Forest. Created in 1917 from portions of Boise and Idaho counties, it developed around timber, ranching, and later recreation tied to its lakes and alpine terrain. The county is small in population, with roughly 11,000–12,000 residents, and settlement is concentrated in a few communities separated by extensive public lands. The landscape includes wide valleys, river corridors, and high-elevation watersheds, with Cascade Reservoir and the resort community of McCall among its most prominent places. Economic activity reflects this geography, combining government and service employment, seasonal tourism, outdoor recreation, and remaining resource-based industries. The county seat is Cascade.

Valley County Local Demographic Profile

Valley County is a rural county in west-central Idaho anchored by Cascade and the McCall–Payette Lake area, bordering large tracts of public lands in the Payette National Forest region. For local government and planning resources, visit the Valley County official website.

Population Size

According to the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for Valley County, Idaho, the county’s population was 11,746 (2020 Census) and 12,552 (July 1, 2023 estimate).

Age & Gender

According to the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for Valley County, Idaho (2018–2022, unless noted), key age and sex indicators include:

  • Persons under 18 years: 16.9%
  • Persons 65 years and over: 31.7%
  • Female persons: 48.8%

Racial & Ethnic Composition

According to the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for Valley County, Idaho (2018–2022), the county’s race and ethnicity profile includes:

  • White alone: 91.6%
  • Black or African American alone: 0.3%
  • American Indian and Alaska Native alone: 0.7%
  • Asian alone: 0.8%
  • Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone: 0.1%
  • Two or more races: 6.1%
  • Hispanic or Latino (of any race): 4.6%

Household & Housing Data

According to the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for Valley County, Idaho (2018–2022, unless noted), household and housing characteristics include:

  • Households: 5,040
  • Persons per household: 2.23
  • Owner-occupied housing unit rate: 75.2%
  • Median value of owner-occupied housing units: $463,700
  • Median selected monthly owner costs (with a mortgage): $1,711
  • Median selected monthly owner costs (without a mortgage): $500
  • Median gross rent: $1,167
  • Housing units (2020): 14,747

Email Usage

Valley County, Idaho is largely mountainous and low-density, with many remote communities around Cascade and McCall; longer last-mile distances and rugged terrain tend to constrain fixed broadband buildout, affecting everyday digital communication such as email.

Direct county-level email usage rates are not routinely published, so broadband and device access are used as proxies. The most consistent local indicators are the county’s household broadband subscription and computer availability reported in the American Community Survey; these data describe baseline capacity for regular email access rather than email-specific adoption (see the U.S. Census Bureau’s data portal (ACS)).

Age structure also matters because older populations generally have lower rates of routine internet and email use than prime-working-age adults; Valley County’s age distribution can be reviewed via U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for Valley County. Gender composition is typically close to parity in county demographic profiles and is not a primary predictor of email adoption relative to age and connectivity.

Connectivity constraints are shaped by limited provider coverage in rural terrain and seasonal population shifts; planning context is summarized by Valley County government resources.

Mobile Phone Usage

Valley County is a large, predominantly rural county in west‑central Idaho that includes Cascade, McCall, and extensive forest and mountain terrain (including the Payette National Forest region). Low population density, steep topography, and long distances between towns shape mobile network design in the county, producing coverage that is often strong along highways and in population centers but more variable in mountainous and backcountry areas.

County context affecting mobile connectivity

  • Rural settlement pattern: Population is concentrated in a small number of communities (notably McCall and Cascade) with wide areas of public land and low-density housing elsewhere. This increases the cost per covered user for cellular buildouts.
  • Terrain and land cover: Mountainous terrain, tree cover, and deep valleys can obstruct line-of-sight and reduce signal strength, especially away from towers and along secondary roads.
  • Seasonal population swings: Recreation and second-home presence around Payette Lake and nearby resort areas can increase peak demand, which matters for capacity even when baseline resident density is low. County-level, season-specific mobile load statistics are generally not published.

Primary sources for geography and demographics include the county profile pages at the U.S. Census Bureau (Census.gov) and local descriptions from Valley County, Idaho’s official website.

Mobile access indicators (penetration/adoption) — what is and is not available

County-specific, mobile-subscription “penetration” rates are not typically published in a single official dataset (for example, “X% of residents have a mobile phone subscription” at the county level). The most consistent county-level adoption indicators available from federal sources relate to:

  • Household internet subscription and device availability (including smartphones) from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS).
  • Modeled broadband and mobile coverage availability from the FCC, which reflects where service is reported as available rather than who subscribes.

Relevant adoption datasets:

  • The American Community Survey (ACS) and the Census “Computer and Internet Use” tables provide measures such as households with an internet subscription and device types used to access the internet (including smartphones). These are often most reliable at state level and for larger geographies; county estimates can have higher margins of error in small, rural counties.
  • The ACS data access tools are used to retrieve the latest available Valley County estimates and margins of error.

Clear distinction:

  • Network availability: Reported coverage and availability (FCC) indicates where a provider says service can be used.
  • Household adoption: ACS-style indicators describe whether households actually have subscriptions and which devices they use, subject to sampling error and geography size constraints.

Network availability (coverage) vs. adoption (subscriptions) in Valley County

Network availability (reported coverage and service types)

  • FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC): The FCC publishes provider-reported mobile broadband availability, including technology generation and speed tiers, through the FCC National Broadband Map. This is the principal public source for county-level and location-level availability.
  • 4G LTE availability: 4G LTE is the baseline mobile broadband technology across most populated areas nationally, and FCC map data is used to evaluate where LTE is reported available in Valley County at the location level. Coverage commonly follows towns and major road corridors more consistently than remote terrain.
  • 5G availability: The FCC map includes 5G availability as reported by providers. In rural mountainous counties, 5G can be present in select towns and along some corridors while remaining absent or limited in remote areas. The FCC map is the authoritative public reference for identifying where 5G is reported available in Valley County.
  • Limitations of availability data: FCC availability is provider-reported and modeled, and it does not equate to consistent on-the-ground performance indoors, in vehicles, or in rugged terrain. Availability also does not represent congestion levels during peak tourism seasons.

Additional state-level planning context appears in Idaho’s broadband planning materials (which often discuss rural terrain and backhaul constraints) via the Idaho Department of Commerce and Idaho broadband program pages where available.

Household adoption (subscriptions and actual use)

  • Household internet subscriptions: ACS indicators capture whether a household subscribes to any internet service and may also distinguish connection types in some releases. These measures describe adoption, not coverage.
  • Mobile internet as primary access: The ACS “internet subscription” questions are designed to capture subscription types and devices used. In rural areas, mobile-only internet access can be more common than in urban settings, but county-level confirmation requires ACS estimates with acceptable reliability (margins of error can be large for small counties).

Mobile internet usage patterns (4G/5G and typical connectivity behaviors)

Technology generation (4G vs 5G)

  • 4G LTE: Typically provides broad-area mobile broadband and is generally the most extensive layer of rural coverage. In mountainous counties, LTE performance can vary materially with terrain, tower siting, and distance.
  • 5G: Often appears first in population centers and along higher-traffic corridors. In rural deployments, 5G commonly uses lower-band spectrum that improves reach compared with high-band but may deliver smaller performance gains relative to LTE than in dense urban areas. County-specific performance metrics are not published by the FCC; the FCC map focuses on availability.

Where usage concentrates geographically

  • Towns and highways: Usage is typically best supported where towers are economically justified—within and near McCall, Cascade, Donnelly, and along primary transportation routes.
  • Backcountry and public lands: Large areas of public land and mountainous terrain can have gaps in service where tower placement is constrained by topography, power/backhaul availability, land access, and limited demand density. FCC availability mapping can be used to identify reported gaps, but real-world experience can diverge due to terrain shadowing.

Common device types (smartphones vs. other devices)

  • Smartphones as primary mobile devices: Nationally, smartphones dominate personal mobile access, and ACS device questions track smartphone presence and smartphone-based internet access at the household level. For Valley County specifically, ACS tables can be used to determine:
    • Share of households with smartphones
    • Households with cellular data plans
    • Households relying on smartphone-only access (where measured and statistically reliable)
  • Other connected devices: Tablets, laptops, and fixed wireless customer premises equipment are relevant in rural broadband usage but are not “mobile phone” devices. County-specific prevalence is generally only available through ACS device tables and carries uncertainty at small geographies.

Primary reference for device-type measurement is the Census computer and internet usage topic pages and associated ACS tables.

Demographic and geographic factors influencing mobile usage

  • Population density and tower economics: Sparse settlement increases per-user infrastructure cost, which can reduce the number of cell sites and increase reliance on macrocells that do not fully penetrate complex terrain.
  • Terrain-driven variability: Mountains and forested areas can cause coverage “shadows,” leading to localized dead zones even within generally served regions.
  • Age structure and second homes: Communities with a higher proportion of seasonal residents and second homes can see a mismatch between resident-based infrastructure planning and peak-demand periods. Public datasets generally do not provide county-level mobile traffic statistics to quantify this effect.
  • Income and subscription decisions: Household income influences adoption of mobile plans and device replacement cycles. ACS provides county-level socioeconomic indicators, but connecting those indicators to mobile adoption requires careful use of ACS internet/device tables and attention to margins of error.

Demographic context is available through data.census.gov for Valley County, including age, income, housing occupancy, and commuting patterns that correlate with communications needs.

Data limitations and how Valley County can be measured with public sources

  • County-level mobile “penetration” (subscriptions per capita) is not consistently published as an official statistic for every county; adoption is more commonly inferred from ACS household device/subscription questions rather than carrier subscription counts.
  • FCC availability is not adoption and not performance. The FCC map indicates where service is reported available, not how many residents subscribe or what speeds they experience.
  • Small-county sampling uncertainty: ACS county estimates for device and subscription types can have large margins of error; multi-year ACS estimates are often used for stability but may lag recent network changes.

Core external references used for county-specific evaluation:

Social Media Trends

Valley County is a largely rural, mountain-and-lake county in west-central Idaho, anchored by McCall and Cascade and shaped by recreation and seasonal tourism around Payette Lake and nearby public lands. Its dispersed settlement pattern, older median age profile, and visitor-heavy economy tend to concentrate social media activity around mobile use, community information sharing, local events, and travel/outdoor content.

User statistics (penetration and activity)

  • Local, county-specific penetration: Public, regularly updated datasets that report social media penetration specifically for Valley County residents are limited; most reputable measures are available at the national or state level rather than county level.
  • National benchmarks often used for rural counties:
  • Practical implication for Valley County: Given its rural character and age structure, Valley County usage is typically expected to align more closely with rural U.S. adoption levels than with metro benchmarks, with heavier reliance on a small number of platforms for local information.

Age group trends (who uses social media most)

National patterns (commonly applied to interpret rural-county usage where local surveys are unavailable) show usage is highest among younger adults and declines with age:

  • 18–29: highest adoption across platforms
  • 30–49: high adoption, generally second-highest
  • 50–64: moderate adoption
  • 65+: lowest adoption, though still substantial for certain platforms
    Source: Pew Research Center age-group estimates (2024).

Gender breakdown

  • Across U.S. adults, women report higher use than men on several major platforms, particularly Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest, while men are more represented on some discussion- or video-centric platforms in certain measures.
  • Overall “use any social media” is relatively close between men and women, with platform-level differences more pronounced than the total.
    Source: Pew Research Center platform-by-demographic tables.

Most-used platforms (percent using among U.S. adults)

The following are widely cited national usage shares among U.S. adults (useful as reference points for a rural county like Valley County when local platform polling is not available). Percentages vary year to year:

Behavioral trends (engagement and preferences)

  • Local-information orientation: In rural counties, social platforms (especially Facebook) are commonly used for community updates, local events, school/activity information, service referrals, marketplace listings, and emergency/weather sharing, reflecting fewer local media outlets and longer travel distances between services.
  • Video-first discovery: High national reach for YouTube supports heavy use for how-to content, outdoor/recreation videos, and travel planning, aligning with Valley County’s recreation and tourism profile. Source for YouTube prevalence: Pew platform usage estimates.
  • Platform preference by age:
  • Engagement pattern: Rural users tend to show higher utility-driven engagement (groups, announcements, local buying/selling) relative to influencer-following or brand discovery behaviors that are more pronounced in dense metro areas; this is consistent with documented rural–urban differences in adoption and use intensity reported in national surveys. Source: Pew Research Center (urban/suburban/rural differences).

Family & Associates Records

Valley County, Idaho, maintains family- and associate-related public records primarily through county offices and the Idaho Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics. Vital records include birth and death certificates, which are created and filed under Idaho’s statewide vital records system rather than as open county public records. Adoption records are generally sealed under state law and are not available as routine public records.

Public-facing databases in Valley County focus more on records that can indicate family/associational relationships, such as recorded property documents, marriage licenses, and court case dockets. Recorded instruments (deeds, mortgages, liens) are maintained by the Valley County Recorder and may be searchable online or in person via the county’s recorder services: Valley County Recorder. Court records are maintained by the Valley County District Court (Fourth Judicial District); public access is commonly provided through the Idaho iCourt Portal for searchable case information: Idaho iCourt Portal. Certified vital records (birth/death) are issued through Idaho Vital Records, with eligibility requirements and ordering methods described by the state: Idaho Vital Records (IDHW).

Privacy restrictions commonly apply to vital records (limited access to eligible requesters), sealed adoption files, and certain court documents (e.g., juvenile matters, protected personal identifiers).

Marriage & Divorce Records

Types of records available

  • Marriage licenses (and marriage certificates/returns)
    Valley County issues marriage licenses through the Valley County Recorder. After the ceremony, the officiant completes the license return and it is recorded, creating the county’s recorded proof of marriage.

  • Divorce decrees (final judgments)
    Divorces are handled as civil cases in the Valley County District Court (Fourth Judicial District, Valley County). The court maintains the case file and issues the final divorce decree/judgment.

  • Annulments (decrees of annulment)
    Annulments are also civil court matters filed in the Valley County District Court. The court record includes pleadings and the court’s decree granting or denying annulment.

  • State-level vital records
    Idaho maintains statewide marriage and divorce “certificates” (vital records) through the Idaho Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics. These are separate from the court’s detailed divorce case file and the county’s recorded marriage instrument.
    Reference: Idaho Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics

Where records are filed and how they can be accessed

  • Valley County marriage records (recorded documents)

    • Filed/recorded with: Valley County Recorder (county recording office).
    • Access: Recorder’s office provides access to recorded instruments and copies, subject to identification and fee requirements set by the county and Idaho law. Some counties provide online indexing/record-search tools; availability and coverage vary by county system.

  • Valley County divorce and annulment court records

    • Filed with: Valley County District Court Clerk (court clerk’s office maintains civil case files and judgments).
    • Access: Court records are generally accessible through the clerk’s office, subject to court rules and confidentiality statutes. Idaho courts also provide statewide case information access for many cases through their online portal, with certain information excluded or restricted by rule.
      Reference: Idaho iCourt Portal / iRecords

  • State vital record certificates (marriage/divorce certificates)

    • Filed/maintained by: Idaho Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics.
    • Access: Requests are handled by the state vital records office and typically require proof of eligibility/identity under Idaho’s vital records confidentiality rules.
      Reference: Idaho Vital Records

Typical information included in these records

  • Marriage license / recorded marriage record

    • Full legal names of both parties
    • Date and place of marriage (and/or date license issued and date ceremony occurred)
    • Officiant name and authority, and officiant’s signature
    • Witness information (when collected on the county form)
    • License number and recording information (book/page or instrument number, recording date)
    • Ages and other application details may appear depending on the form version and statutory requirements at the time of issuance

  • Divorce decree (final judgment)

    • Parties’ names and case number
    • Date of decree and court/judge information
    • Orders dissolving the marriage and related findings
    • Orders on legal issues addressed in the case (commonly property division, debt allocation, child custody/parenting time, child support, spousal maintenance, restoration of a former name)

  • Annulment decree

    • Parties’ names and case number
    • Date of decree and court/judge information
    • Determination that a marriage is void/voidable under Idaho law and the court’s disposition
    • Related orders (property, support, custody) where applicable

  • State-issued marriage/divorce certificates

    • Summary “certificate” information used for vital statistics, generally including names, event date, event location (county), and filing information; these do not substitute for the full court case file in a divorce.

Privacy and legal restrictions

  • Marriage records

    • Recorded marriage instruments are commonly treated as public records in county recording systems, but access can be limited for specific data elements protected by law (for example, certain personal identifiers) or by county redaction practices.

  • Divorce and annulment court records

    • Court case files are generally public, but Idaho court rules and statutes restrict access to certain categories of information and case materials. Typical restrictions include sealed records and protected personal data (for example, minor-related information, financial account numbers, and other sensitive identifiers). Some filings may be available only in redacted form or may be excluded from online display.

  • State vital records

    • Idaho vital records (including marriage and divorce certificates maintained by the state) are subject to statutory confidentiality controls, with issuance limited to individuals who meet eligibility requirements and provide required identification and fees.

Education, Employment and Housing

Valley County is a rural, mountain county in west-central Idaho centered on the McCall–Donnelly area and the Long Valley corridor along State Highway 55, with extensive public lands and a large seasonal population tied to recreation (Payette Lake, Brundage Mountain, Cascade Reservoir). The permanent population is small (about 12,000 residents per the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts profile), older than Idaho overall, and characterized by a mix of long-term residents, second-home owners, and service workers supporting tourism.

Education Indicators

Public schools (count and names)

Valley County’s public K–12 system is primarily served by McCall-Donnelly School District #421 and parts of Cascade School District #422 (Cascade is based in neighboring Boise County but serves communities on/near the Valley–Boise county area). Public school counts and official school rosters vary by year; the most stable, commonly listed schools in Valley County include:

  • McCall-Donnelly High School (McCall)
  • Payette Lakes Middle School (McCall)
  • Barbara R. Morgan Elementary School (McCall)
  • Donnelly Elementary School (Donnelly)
  • Mountain Community School (McCall; alternative/expeditionary-style public school commonly listed as part of the district’s public options)

For current, authoritative school directories (including any charter schools serving county residents), use the Idaho State Department of Education and district pages for McCall-Donnelly and Cascade.

Student–teacher ratios and graduation rates

  • Student–teacher ratios: Valley County schools are small and commonly operate at lower student–teacher ratios than statewide averages, but district- and school-level ratios fluctuate year to year due to enrollment volatility. The most consistently comparable figures are published in school report cards and state/district accountability dashboards rather than countywide rollups.
  • Graduation rates: The most reliable “most recent” graduation rates are the district-level cohort rates published by the state. Valley County’s graduation rate is best represented by McCall-Donnelly School District’s cohort graduation rate (and Cascade’s rate for students served there), available through Idaho’s accountability reporting and district report cards linked from the Idaho State Department of Education.

Data note: A single countywide graduation rate is not routinely published because graduation reporting is typically at the school/district level.

Adult educational attainment (countywide)

From the most recent ACS-based county profile (U.S. Census Bureau):

  • High school diploma or higher (age 25+): approximately in the 90%+ range for Valley County (county estimate; see QuickFacts).
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher (age 25+): roughly one-third of adults (commonly reported near the 30%–40% range; see QuickFacts for the current estimate).

Notable programs (STEM, CTE, AP)

Public secondary programs commonly documented for rural Idaho districts serving Valley County include:

  • Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways (e.g., business, trades/industrial arts, health-related coursework where available), aligned with Idaho CTE frameworks (overview at Idaho Career & Technical Education).
  • Dual credit / concurrent enrollment options through Idaho’s statewide and regional postsecondary partnerships (varies by school and staffing).
  • Advanced Placement (AP): AP availability is typically limited in small rural high schools and is offered on a course-by-course basis; current AP catalogs are maintained by the district/high school.

Data note: Specific program inventories (exact AP course list, number of CTE concentrators, credential counts) are reported at the school/district level and change with staffing and enrollment.

School safety measures and counseling resources

Like other Idaho districts, Valley County public schools commonly report:

  • Controlled entry practices, visitor check-in requirements, and coordination with local law enforcement/school resource support when available.
  • Emergency operations planning (lockdown, evacuation, reunification procedures) consistent with Idaho school safety guidance disseminated through state and local agencies.
  • Student support services, including school counseling (and, where staffing allows, social work/behavioral health supports) with referral pathways to community providers.

Data note: Detailed, school-specific safety features and counselor-to-student staffing are documented in district policies, annual notices, and school handbooks rather than in standardized county datasets.

Employment and Economic Conditions

Unemployment rate (most recent)

The most comparable “official” unemployment rates are produced by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS). Valley County’s unemployment is typically seasonal (winter recreation and summer tourism peaks) and varies by month. The most recent annual average and latest monthly figures are available via the BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (select Idaho → Valley County).

Major industries and employment sectors

Valley County’s economy is dominated by a mix of:

  • Accommodation & food services and arts/entertainment/recreation (tourism, ski area operations, hospitality)
  • Retail trade (including seasonal demand)
  • Construction (residential construction and remodeling tied to second homes and in-migration)
  • Health care and social assistance (serving an older population and regional visitors)
  • Public administration and education (county government, schools)
  • Real estate and rental/leasing (property management and second-home market activity)

These patterns are consistent with rural resort-oriented counties in Idaho; detailed sector employment levels are published through the Idaho Department of Labor Labor Market Information tools and BLS industry datasets.

Common occupations and workforce structure

Common occupational groups typically include:

  • Service occupations (food service, housekeeping, recreation-related roles)
  • Construction and extraction trades
  • Sales and office support roles
  • Transportation and material moving (local delivery, maintenance)
  • Management/professional roles (public sector, education, health care, small business ownership, remote work)

Proxy note: County-specific occupational distributions are best sourced from ACS “occupation” tables and Idaho Labor Market Information; resort counties commonly show elevated service and construction shares relative to statewide averages.

Commuting patterns and mean travel time

  • Commute mode: The dominant mode is driving alone, with limited fixed-route transit; carpooling and remote work are meaningful secondary categories in many rural Idaho counties.
  • Mean commute time: Valley County’s mean commute time is commonly around the mid‑20 minutes (ACS-based; see the county’s commuting section in data.census.gov for the most recent estimate).

Local employment versus out-of-county work

Valley County includes a locally concentrated employment base in McCall/Donnelly and along the Highway 55 corridor. Out-of-county commuting occurs, particularly toward Ada County (Boise metro) and adjacent counties for specialized jobs, but the largest day-to-day work patterns remain within the county for hospitality, government, schools, and local services. The most current “county-to-county commuting flows” are available from the U.S. Census LEHD OnTheMap tool.

Housing and Real Estate

Homeownership and renting

Valley County has a high share of owner-occupied housing but also an unusually large seasonal/occasional-use housing component due to second homes. Owner/renter shares and vacancy categories are reported in ACS housing tables and summarized in QuickFacts.

Median property values and trends

  • Median owner-occupied home value: Valley County’s median value is above Idaho’s overall median in most recent ACS estimates, reflecting the resort market (see QuickFacts).
  • Recent trend: Over the past several years, values have generally risen sharply in line with broader Mountain West second-home and recreation markets, with short-term fluctuations year to year. The best “official” trend proxy is the ACS median value series; market transaction trends are tracked by regional MLS statistics (not a standardized federal dataset).

Typical rents

  • Median gross rent: Reported through ACS and summarized in QuickFacts. Rents tend to be elevated relative to rural Idaho averages due to constrained supply, seasonal demand, and tourism-driven competition for units.

Proxy note: Asking rents for newer or furnished units often exceed ACS medians in resort markets; ACS remains the most comparable countywide benchmark.

Housing types and built environment

Common housing types include:

  • Single-family detached homes and cabins (dominant form, including lake-area and forest-adjacent properties)
  • Townhomes/condominiums concentrated near McCall and resort nodes
  • Manufactured homes and older housing stock in portions of the valley
  • Rural lots and large-lot homes with well/septic systems outside city cores Apartments exist but are limited compared with metro counties, contributing to tight long-term rental availability.

Neighborhood characteristics (schools, amenities)

  • McCall concentrates the largest cluster of schools, medical services, retail, and community amenities, with walkability highest near downtown.
  • Donnelly provides proximity to recreation assets and highway access, with a smaller service core.
  • Outlying areas prioritize access to public lands and lakes over proximity to schools and daily retail; travel to schools typically requires driving.

Property taxes (rate and typical homeowner cost)

Idaho property taxes are locally administered with rates varying by taxing district (schools, county, cities, fire). Valley County’s effective property tax rate is commonly around the Idaho average (roughly 0.6%–0.8% of market value in many areas), but the typical tax bill can be higher than rural averages because home values are higher in resort submarkets. Official levy rates and homeowner bills are available through the Idaho State Tax Commission and Valley County assessor/treasurer publications (tax district-specific).

Data note: A single countywide “average tax bill” is not a stable figure due to large variation between McCall-area lakefront/near-resort properties and lower-valued outlying housing, plus exemptions (e.g., homeowner’s exemption) and taxing-district boundaries.

Table of Contents

Other Counties in Idaho