Thinking of moving to Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho? Here is the ultimate guide to moving to this great area!
Moving to Coeur d’ Alene: The Ultimate Guide- Updated 9/23
Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho –
Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho is a city in North Idaho. It is located in the Panhandle area of Idaho. It does go by CdA to make it easier to spell out sometimes. It is pronounced kor duh·layn.
It is 16 minute drive/ 13 miles miles from the Washington border, 1 hour 8 minute drive/ 61 miles from the Montana board, 2 hour 18 minute drive/ 108 miles to Canada. It is also a 7 hour 21 minute drive/ 459 miles from Boise, Idaho. It is located in the Pacific Standard Time Zone. Coeur d’ Alene is the biggest city in Kootenai County. It is at an elevation of 2,188.
What is Coeur d’ Alene known for?
- Coeur d’ Alene is a resort community with a great downtown vibe.
- It is famous for the only floating green at the Coeur d’ Alene Resort Golf Course.
- It also has one of the largest holiday light shows- this happens on the Friday after Thanksgiving. There is a parade with Santa at the end, then fireworks followed by the light of the Christmas lights throughout town.
Coeur d’ Alene Population
Moving to Coeur d’ Alene? Then you probably would like to know about the population of this area.
Coeur d’ Alene Population– The current projected population for Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho is 56,733 based on the 2022 US Census. That would make it the 7th largest city in Idaho. The population density is 3,414 people per square mile. This doesn’t include the surrounding towns around CdA. When you come and see this area it is hard to tell where CdA begins and other cities like Post Falls, Dalton Gardens, Hayden and Huetter begin and end. They are all coming together. So when you are here, it does feel more populated. The metro area’s population is estimated to be 174,673 and is growing at a rate of 2.57%. Which is much higher than the normal growth rate of 1.1% per year.
Coeur d’ Alene Demographics
Moving to Coeur d’ Alene? Then you probably would like to know about the demographics of this area.
Coeur d’ Alene Demographics-
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Coeur d’Alene was:
- White: 93.37%
- Two or more races: 2.74%
- Native American: 1.83%
- Asian: 1.22%
- Other race: 0.55%
- Black or African American: 0.26%
- Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0.03%
To see more about the demographics for Coeur d’ Alene Idaho visit https://worldpopulationreview.com/us-cities/coeur-d’alene-id-population
Coeur d’ Alene Weather
Moving to Coeur d’ Alene? Then you probably would like to know about the weather in this area.
Coeur d’ Alene Weather- there is a joke in CdA/ Northern Idaho if you don’t like the weather wait 10 minutes because it will change. We do get all 4 seasons here which is great! Sometimes even in the same day.
Seasons typically look like:
Winter: December through end of February
Spring: March through end of May
Summer: June through end of September
Fall: October through beginning of December
Now with this being said we do have some weird snow and every once in a while you can expect snow anytime from Halloween to Easter. On average Coeur d’ Alene gets about 42.4 inches per year. We get snow and then it melts and snows again. It has been a few years since we have had many feet of snow at once.
The hot season lasts typically from mid June to mid September with an average daily high temperature of 76 degrees.
The cold season lasts from mid November to the end of February with an average daily high temperature below 44 degrees.
For 2021 we had an unusually hot summer. We had multiple days that were near or over 100 degrees. We have also had a pretty mild winter so far with some snow here and there. We also have a fair amount of cloud coverage in this area. It can make the winter months seem even longer with gray skies. The cloudier part of the year starts around the beginning of October and goes until the beginning of June- so roughly 8 months. With the opposite being clearer from the beginning of June until the beginning of October. This can get a lot of people that are not used to cloudier days cabin fever.
One thing to also keep in mind is Coeur d’ Alene is at the beginning of the Pacific Time zone so we do tend to get dark earlier than other places in Idaho. In mid December sunrise is typically around 7:30 am with a sunset around 4:00 pm.
Check out the following website for more in depth information on the weather in and around Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho https://weatherspark.com/y/2174/Average-Weather-in-Coeur-d’Alene-Idaho-United-States-Year-Round#Sections-BestTime
Companies Headquartered in Coeur d’ Alene
Companies Headquartered in Coeur d’ Alene-
There are not a lot of headquarters in Coeur d’ Alene but here is some information on the leading employment industries and companies in and around the area.
The major industries for the Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho area are the lumber industry, healthcare and tourism related businesses. Manufacturing is also a big part of employment for the area.
The major employment sectors in Coeur D’ Alene are:
- Healthcare
- Tourism
- Construction
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Education
- Government
- Manufacturing
- Social assistance
- Customer service
Jobs in Coeur d’ Alene-
Moving to Coeur d’ Alene? Then you probably would like to know about the jobs in this area.
There are a lot of jobs available in and around the Coeur d’ Alene area. We do have a large segment of retired people moving into the area or people that can work from home so it has put a strain on other industries in our area. Because of the increase in the housing prices it has made it difficult for people to work and live in this area. The average income for a resident is $23,040 a year or a household income average of $47,606 which is less than the United States average of $57,652. The overall cost of living index for Coeur d’Alene is 106.2 on a scale where the national base for average cost of living is 100. Some people do find it better to live in CdA and then commute over to Spokane, Washington to find better paying jobs.
Here is a list of the largest employers in the CdA area:
- Hagadone Corporation – Tourism & Publishing
- Kootenai Medical Center – Hospital
- Cd’A School District – Education
- Center Partners – Call centers
- North Idaho College – Community College
- State of Idaho – Government
- KC Government – County Government
- Cd ‘A Tribal Casino – Amusement
- US Government – Federal government
- Post Falls School District – Education
- Lakewood School District – Education
- Verizon Communications – Telephone and call centers
- Walmart – Retail
- Silverwood – Theme park
- Kimball Office – Furniture manufacturer
- City of Coeur Dalene
- US Bank – Banking & call center
- Coldwater Creek – Catalog company
- Buck Knives – Hunting knives MFG
- Advanced Input Systems – Control panels & keyboards
Average Home price in Coeur d’ Alene:
Moving to Coeur d’ Alene? Then you probably would like to know about the average home price in this area.
The median sales price for Coeur d’ Alene Idaho in September 2023 was $548,900 which is down 5.4% from this same time last year. Now if we go into the average sales price that was $661,211 which is down 1.7% from last year. The difference in those numbers is because we do have a lot of waterfront homes that have sold and those are bringing that average price up. As of September there is a 2.8 months supply of homes on the market which is 86.7% higher from this same time last year. We are starting to see more homes come on the market which is a good thing. It is not a market were seller’s can overprice their home. We are starting to see more price changes and more homes coming back on the market. Why are more homes coming back on the market? It is because more buyer’s are putting contingencies in their offers – ie inspections, appraisals, loans, home sales, etc. And buyer’s are now willing to walk away if something comes up with those contingencies. There is still a high buyer’s demand and depending on the price range the demand might be higher. For instance under $400k will go very fast where as a home listed over $1 million might take longer to sell if it is not an amazing property. Right now an average home with 1200-1400 sq ft, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a lot size around 0.15 acres is going for around the $390,000-$430,000 price range. Check out the real estate section of this post for list of homes.
Coeur d’ Alene commute times-
Moving to Coeur d’ Alene? Then you probably would like to know about the commute times in this area.
The rush hour time in the morning for travel around Coeur d’ Alene is from 6:30 am to about 8:30 am with travel being about 10-20 minutes (depending on where you are going). The rush hour time in the evening is typically from 3:30 pm to about 6:00 pm with a travel time of 10-20 minutes (depending on where you are traveling to). Keep in mind too that when we have weather that can play a role into the travel times too.
Here are some of the commute times from Coeur d’ Alene to: (from my office location in CdA at 1103 E Best Ave)
Spokane International Airport: 41 minute drive/ 39 miles
Post Falls: 13 minute drive/ 8.9 miles
Rathdrum: 27 minute drive/ 15 miles
Spirit Lake: 43 minute drive/ 22 miles
Athol: 33 minute drive/ 20 miles
Sandpoint: 1 hour 2 minute drive/ 45 miles
Kellogg: 43 minute drive/ 38 miles
Wallace: 54 minute drive/ 50 miles
Montana border: 1 hour 8 minute drive/ 61 miles
Washington border: 16 minute drive/ 13 miles
Canadian border: 2 hour 18 minute drive/ 108 miles
Boise: 7 hour 21 minute drive/ 459 miles
Moscow: 1 hour 48 minute drive/ 85 miles
Lewiston: 2 hour 30 minute drive/ 117 miles
Downtown Spokane: 35 minute drive/ 32 miles
Spokane Valley: 29 minute drive/ 25 miles
Missoula, MT: 3 hour 5 minute drive/ 165 miles
Seattle, WA: 5 hour 3 minute drive/ 310 miles
Lookout Pass Ski Resort: 1 hour 9 minute drive/ 61 miles
Silver Mountain Ski Resort: 41 minute drive/ 37 miles
Schweitzer Ski Resort: 1 hour 24 minute drive/ 57 miles
Check out this website for the Walk Score for different areas in Coeur d’ Alene. https://www.walkscore.com/
Best Restaurants in Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho-
Moving to Coeur d’ Alene? Then you probably would like to know about the best restaurants in this area.
There are a fair amount of great restaurants in Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho and surrounding areas. For the most part we are going to have all the big chain restaurants and fast food places. But I would like to talk about local restaurants that my family and I love. (Yes, a couple of these places are chain places because the kids really like them and wanted me to include them.) For address and more information about these restaurants visit my restaurant guide.
For Italian- Tomato Street, Tito’s, Ridiciis (in Hayden),
For Steak- Wolf Lodge,
For Seafood- Fisherman’s Market, Pokeworks, Anthony’s,
For Burgers- Nosworthy’s, Capone’s, Rodgers, Hudson’s, Messys
For Mediterranean- White House (Post Falls), Olympia
For Mexican- Taco Works, Juniors Cocina Mexicana, El Pisa, Toro Veijo
For Asian- Canton Asian Restaurant, Fuki
For Breakfast- Nosworthy’s, Jimmy’s Down the Street, Chompers, Fort Grounds, Belle’s (Hayden), Taco Works, Blue Bird
For Lunch- Capone’s, Nosworthy’s, Fort Grounds, Taco Works, Chompers, MoonTime, Porch (Hayden), Relic, Jimmy’s Down the Street, Honey, Fire, Collective Kitchen, Crafted, The Crown & Thistle
For Dinner- Toro Veijo, Capone’s, Fuki, MoonTime, Porch (Hayden), Relic, Collective Kitchen, Crafted
For Date Night- Anthony’s, Beverly’s, Syringa, Season’s, Collective Kitchen
For a Family Restaurant- Fuki, Tomato Street, Tito’s, Capone’s
Bar food- Patty’s, Fort Grounds, Nosworthy’s, The Crown & Thistle
For Dessert- Dockside, 32 Below, Jam’s, Bean and Pie, Whoops, Gelato By the Lake, Birdie Pie Shop(Hayden or Post Falls), Crumble Cookie
For BBQ- Relic,
For Sushi- Kaiju Sushi & Spirits, I love Sushi, Syringa
For Girls night- Season’s, Syringa, Honey, Collective Kitchen, Whispers, Wine House, Crafted, Moose Lounge, Crickets
For Pizza- Flame and Cork (Hayden), Fire, Capone’s
For Sandwiches- Rustic, Franklin’s Hoagies, MoonTime
Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho NightLife-
For NightLife in Coeur d’ Alene you are mostly going to be in the Downtown area. There are many great breweries, wineries, music and live entertainment. It is especially prevalent in the summertime as there is Live After 5 and many outdoors events to enjoy. For address and more information check out my Breweries, Wineries and Live Music Guide.
Brewery- High Society Brewing, Daft Badger Brewing, Trails End Brewery & Brick-oven Pizza, Paragon Brewing, Outpost Brewing,Tricksters Brewing, Jeremiah Johnson Brewing Company CdA Pub, Chalice Brewing, Black Lodge Brewing Co., The Growler Guys, Coeur d’ Alene Cider Company, Coeur d’ Alene Taphouse Unchained
Wineries- Coeur d’ Alene Cellars, Castaway Cellars Wine Bar and Tasting Room, Cranberry Road Winery. Other good places to grab a glass of wine- Cork and Tap, Wine House, LiveforBlu Gallery and Wine Bar, Studio 107
Live Music- Live After 5 Events, the NYC Piano Bar, Cork & Tap CdA, Moose Lounge, Iron Horse, LiveforBlu Gallery and Wine Bar, Studio 107, Backwoods Whiskey Bar, Honey Eatery and Social Club, Crafted Tap House, MoonTime, 315 Cuisine
Live Entertainment- Honey, Relic
Coeur d’ Alene Family Friendly Activities-
Coeur d’ Alene Idaho has many family friendly activities ranging from hiking areas to theme parks to lake destinations to driving adventures. Some of my family’s greatest times are getting in the truck and exploring the mountains and surrounding forests. We typically pack a picnic and make a day trip of exploring. I am always updating events that are going on around Coeur d’ Alene. Here are the latest family friendly events/activities going on around Coeur d’ Alene for this month.
Outdoor Activities in Coeur d’ Alene
Moving to Coeur d’ Alene? Then you probably want to know about the outdoor activities this area has to offer.
One of the things North Idaho is known for is its great outdoor activities. We have all four seasons so there is alway something fun to do outdoors. Whether it is winter, spring, summer or fall we are always out and about. Here is a list of all the great activities my family and I like to enjoy.
If you are looking for hiking trails the top places my children and I like to explore are:
- Mineral Ridge
- Tubbs Hill
- English Point (in Hayden, Idaho)- 15 minutes from Coeur d’ Alene
- Canfield Mountain
- Farragut State Park (Bayview, Idaho)- 30 minute drive from CdA
- Rathdrum Mountain Story Walk- My kids and I personally helped create this story walk when I was President of the Coeur d’ Alene Association of Realtors.
Some of the walking/biking areas we will to go to are:
- Centennial Trail- especially out by CdA Lake Dr
- Around NIC
- Downtown
- Riverstone area
- Tubbs Hill
We are also a family that is big on Fishing:
- We like going to Fernan
- Hayden Lake
- Anywhere around CdA Lake
- And if you are up for a drive the North Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River
**Be sure to check the fishing regulations before you head out! Here is a link to the Idaho Fish and Game website. https://idfg.idaho.gov/
We also love to golf. Here is a list of some of our favorite golf courses around CdA:
- Avondale Golf Club
- Coeur d’ Alene Resort
- Hayden Country Club
- Links (in Post Falls)
For winter activities we like to go snowshoeing or skiing. Now CdA doesn’t have any ski resorts right in town but we do have several that are within a little drive.
- Silver Mountain (Kellogg, Idaho- 41 minute drive)
- Lookout (Idaho/Montana border- 1 hour 9 minute drive)
- Schweitzer Mountain (Sandpoint, Idaho- 1 hour 24 minute drive)
- English Point for snowshoeing (Hayden, Idaho)
- Farragut State Park (Bayview, Idaho)
Coeur d’ Alene Housing Affordability
Is Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho affordable and the answer is no. Based on the medium income you can make in Coeur d’ Alene most people can not afford to live in the area. It has been this way since 2018 but in recent years what you can purchase for your money has decreased.
Coeur d’ Alene School Districts
In Coeur d’ Alene there is one school district for CdA, Hayden and Dalton schools. It is school district 271. It consists of 11-Preschool, 11- Elementary schools, 3- Middle Schools, 3- High Schools and 1- Joint Tech School. There are 17 other schools not in the district but that are private or charter schools.
Here is a list of all the schools along with their phone numbers, locations and website links.
Highest Rated Schools in Coeur d’ Alene
For Elementary Schools in the Coeur d’ Alene school district these are the top 5 highest ranking schools
- Sorensen Magnet School of the Arts and Humanities- above average
- Dalton Elementary School- above average
- Hayden Meadows Elementary- above average
- Bryan Elementary- above average
- Ramsey Magnet School of Science- average
For Middle schools- since there are only 3 of them either public or public charter this is how those rank
- Canfield Middle School- above average
- Lakes Magnet School- average
- Woodland Middle School- below average
For High schools- since there are only 3 of them this is how they rank:
- Coeur d’ Alene High School- above average
- Lake City High School- Above average
- Venture High School- not rated
Here is a great website to look further into the schools in Coeur d’ Alene and how they are ranked. https://www.greatschools.org/idaho/coeur-d’alene/coeur-d’alene-district/
Coeur d’ Alene Neighborhoods
There are many great areas to live in Coeur d’ Alene. We have many neighborhoods that have CCRs (Codes, Covenants and Restrictions) and HOA’s but then we have a lot of places that don’t have any of those. So whether you are looking for restrictions or not we can definitely find a great area for you to live in. For 2021 here is a list of the Top 10 Subdivision in Coeur d’ Alene: (these are based on the neighborhoods that had the most closing in them)
- CdA Place/Bolivar/Sorbonne
- Landings at Waterford
- The Trails
- Oakcrest
- Hawks Nest
- Fairway Hills
- Hayden View
- Sunshine Meadows
- Lake Forest West
- North Shire
Coeur d’ Alene Real Estate
Keeping Up with the Coeur d’ Alene Real Estate Market in 2023
The real estate landscape in CdA, Idaho, has continued to evolve in 2023, with notable shifts and trends reshaping the market. While we’ve witnessed some changes, it’s crucial to remember that the foundation laid in 2021 has had a lasting impact.
2021 was an eventful year for the real estate scene in Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho, much like it was for cities across the nation. One significant driving force behind the influx of out-of-area buyers into Coeur d’ Alene was the political climate in their home states. Additionally, many individuals were drawn to Idaho’s approach to managing the COVID-19 pandemic, marked by fewer restrictions and the ability for children to attend public school without disruptions. These factors, among others, continue to make Cd’A an attractive destination, especially for those relocating from California, the eastern side of Washington, and Oregon.
The robust seller’s market that emerged in 2020 gained even more momentum in 2021. Inventory levels remained low, and multiple offer situations were the norm across various segments of the housing market. New construction homes struggled to keep pace with demand, primarily due to a combination of material shortages and labor constraints. In 2021, it was not uncommon to witness multiple offers on homes, often numbering five or more, particularly when priced at market value.
As we entered 2022, the market continued to exhibit strength, with an average of 3-5 offers on homes priced at market value. However, the latter part of 2022 introduced new dynamics. Fluctuating interest rates prompted some buyers to step back temporarily from the housing market, resulting in homes staying on the market for more extended periods. In the $400,000 to $500,000 price range, it now takes approximately 8-10 showings before a property goes pending. It’s important to note that homes priced under $400,000 remain highly attractive, thanks to the abundance of buyers in this range—unless significant renovation work is required.
Now, let’s delve into the 2022 market trends and see how they have evolved in 2023
Total closed sales: 705
Percent New Construction: 14.04%
Percent of Previously owned: 85.96%
Active Listings: 272
Months Supply of Inventory: 2.8
Days on Market: 60 (median)(All construction types)
Percent of List Price Received: 97.6% (average)
Coeur d’ Alene Historical Median Prices
| 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | Change from 2020 | Change from 2017 |
| $260,000 | $292,250 | $330,000 | $385,000 | $520,000 | +35.1% | +100.0% |
Are all the homes in Coeur d’ Alene being bought with cash? The answer is no. Here is a breakdown of how many homes closed each month last year vs how many were cash sales. And as you can see most cash deals were in the summer months and have been going down for the last few months.
| Month | Sept/ 2023 | Aug/ 2023 | July/ 2023 | Jun/ 2023 | May/ 2023 | Apr/ 2023 |
| Total Closed | 383 | 440 | 387 | 458 | 390 | 289 |
| Cash Deals | 153 | 93 | 156 | 151 | 139 | 118 |
Breakdown of total sales vs Cash sales in Coeur d’ Alene real estate market
| Month | Mar/ 2023 | Feb/ 2023 | Jan/2023 | Dec/2022 | Nov/ 2022 | Oct/ 2022 |
| Total Closed | 345 | 228 | 179 | 263 | 340 | 367 |
| Cash Deals | 103 | 68 | 61 | 74 | 120 | 136 |
Breakdown of total sales vs Cash sales in Coeur d’ Alene real estate market
Homes For Sale In Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho
Take a look at the list of homes I have created for certain price ranges in Coeur d’ Alene:
Here is a list of homes you can find for sale in Coeur d’ Alene under $400k
Here is a list of homes you can find for sale in Coeur d’ Alene from $400k-$600k
Here is a list of homes you can find for sale in Coeur d’ Alene from $600k to $800k
Here is a list of homes you can find for sale in Coeur d’ Alene from $800k to $1million
Here is a list of homes you can find for sale in Coeur d’ Alene from $1 million to $2 million
Here is a list of homes you can find for sale in Coeur d’ Alene over $2 million
Here is a list of the most expensive homes for sale in Coeur d’ Alene
Here is a list of homes you can find for sale in Coeur d’ Alene that are REO or Bank owned
Here is a list of homes you can find for sale in Coeur d’ Alene that are a Short Sale (none at this time)
Here is a list of lots you can find for sale in Coeur d’ Alene
Here is a list of all the properties for sale on Coeur d’ Alene Lake
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