Challis city, Idaho Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Challis city is a small community located in Idaho. The total population is 794. It ranks as the 117th most populous out of 234 cities and towns in Idaho.

Age Demographics

The median age in Challis city is 44.9 years. This is 21% higher than the state median of 37.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Challis city is $50,034. This is 33% lower than the state median of $74,636. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 36% lower. The poverty rate stands at 15.2%. This is 43% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.6%. The unemployment rate is 1.4%. This is 61% lower than the state rate of 3.7%. The median home value is $168,300. Housing costs are 55% lower than the state median of $376,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.4x. 56.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 22% lower than the state average of 72.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Challis city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 80.9% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 8.1%. The Asian population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 1.3%.

Education

22.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 26% lower than the state rate of 31.2%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 90.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Challis city, Idaho is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Idaho state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 234 Census-designated places in Idaho. For official data, visit data.census.gov.