RANK #344 / 1001 NAT · POP 89,454
1YR FORECAST: -0.8%
5YR OUTLOOK: +31%
Bannock County, Idaho, is perhaps best known as home to Pocatello, the county seat and Idaho's fifth-largest city, often called the "Gate City" for its historical role as a transportation hub. Located in southeastern Idaho, it sits in the Portneuf River valley, roughly two hours from Yellowstone National Park. The community offers a four-season climate, with clear, sunny, and dry weather. Outdoor recreation is a significant draw, with the Portneuf Range offering hiking, camping, fishing, and skiing at Pebble Creek Ski Area. The Portneuf Greenway provides miles of trails along the river for walking and biking.
Life in Bannock County is characterized by a blend of urban amenities and access to natural landscapes. The presence of Idaho State University in Pocatello contributes to the area's educational and cultural scene, offering over 200 programs and acting as a major economic driver. Public schools in the county are rated above average. Commute times are generally short, with most workers having less than a 20-minute drive. The economy is diverse, with key industries including education, healthcare, manufacturing, and agriculture. Recent economic developments include investments in transportation infrastructure and initiatives aimed at transforming underutilized areas into economic hubs.
Bannock County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +0.4% YoY, population +1.1%, wages +4.8%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Well below national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Prices detached from rents
Housing looks overvalued at 14.1x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Harmon Solar Project (300 MW Solar + 1200 MWh BESS)
Balanced Rock Power
|
$300M | Proposed |
|
New Residential Construction (Multiple Developments)
Various Home Builders
|
$100M | Under Construction |
|
Savage Transload Network Facilities
Savage Transload Network
|
$50M | Completed |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
With a Boom Town Index score of 65/100, Bannock County sits in the upper half of all 1001 ranked counties. Employment is expanding at +1.8%, and median household income stands at $66,499 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in ID.
Bannock County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $300,700 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.22 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $960/month on average.
Bannock County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +1.1% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +1.8% clip. Home values shifted +0.4% in the past year.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.82% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Bannock County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.