A Great Place to Live
Pocatello is surrounded by high desert and mountains which is ideal for outdoor recreation activities. Hiking, biking, skiing, fishing and sightseeing are among the favorites. Interstate I-15 and I-86 provide easy access to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, Sun Valley, Craters of the Moon and other outdoor wonders.
The major college educational, cultural and sports programs of Idaho State University are an integral part of the community scene.
In March 2021, the median list price of homes in Pocatello, ID was $225K, trending up 13.9% year-over-year. In August 2021 the median list price of homes was 269.9K. The Cost of Living index is 72% compared to 110% for the other Great Places to Retire.
For the period 1971-2000 the Average Low Temperature was 16 F in January and the Average High Temperature was 88 F in July.
Historically:
Historically, pioneers, gold miners and settlers traveled the Oregon Trail and they passed through the Portneuf Gap south of town. Stage and freight lines and the railroad soon followed, turning Pocatello into a trade center and transportation junction.
Founded as an important stop on the first railroad in Idaho during the gold rush, the city later became an important center for agriculture. It is located along the Portneuf River where it emerges from the mountains onto the Snake River Plain, along the route of the Oregon Trail. The name comes from Chief Pocatello, a chief of the Shoshoni who granted the right-of-way for the railroad across the Fort Hall Indian Reservation.
Pocatello is the County Seat and largest city of Bannock County. The elevation is 4,462 feet above sea level.
The population as of 2016 was 54,746. Chubbuck adjoins Pocatello on the North with a 2016 population of 14,644. The city is the county seat of Bannock County and the home of Idaho State University.
The unemployment rate is historically below the U.S. average. The average commute time is about half the U.S. average.
Pocatello is #14 in cost of doing business according to Forbes Magazine.
Among GreatPlacesToRetire.com cities, Pocatello ranks high in air quality, home sales prices and man-made hazards risk.
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