Town guide

Priest River, Idaho

Priest River is a city in Bonner County, Idaho, home to about 1,778 people across 3.5 square miles. Its ZIP code is 83856.

Homes sold for a median of $333 per square foot in the three months ending August 2026, a balanced market.

Population1,778502 per sq mi
Median home value$299,100Census, as estimated by owners
Price per sq ft$333Sold homes, 3 months to August 2026
Sold over asking0%Latest 3 months

ZIP codes in Priest River

1 ZIP code

Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside Priest River. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology

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  • History
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  • Getting around
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Around Priest River

Distances

Nearest major airportSpokane International Airport (GEG)48 miles away
Nearest city of 250,000+Seattle, WA255 miles away

Straight-line distances from the center of Priest River; driving is longer.

Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Who represents Priest River

Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.

Population over time

Priest River had 1,696 residents in the 2020 census, down 3% since 2000.

It’s the 73rd largest of 232 towns in Idaho by population.

Bonner County grew from 13,588 residents in 1910 to 47,110 in 2020.

Priest River population by census2000: 1,754, 2010: 1,751, 2020: 1,6961,75420001,75120101,6962020

Bonner County, 1910–2020

Bonner County population, 1910 to 20201910: 13,588, 1920: 12,957, 1930: 13,152, 1940: 15,667, 1950: 14,853, 1960: 15,587, 1970: 15,560, 1980: 24,163, 1990: 26,622, 2000: 36,835, 2010: 40,877, 2020: 47,11014K’10’2013K’30’4015K’50’6016K’70’8027K’90’0041K’1047K’20

Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).

Weather by month

Average highs peak around 84°F in summer, and winter lows average 23°F. About 27.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year.

Average high and low temperature and precipitation by month near Priest RiverJan: high 32°F, low 24°F, 3 in; Feb: high 38°F, low 23°F, 2 in; Mar: high 48°F, low 28°F, 3.2 in; Apr: high 57°F, low 33°F, 2.3 in; May: high 68°F, low 41°F, 2.2 in; Jun: high 74°F, low 47°F, 2.3 in; Jul: high 84°F, low 51°F, 1 in; Aug: high 83°F, low 49°F, 0.8 in; Sep: high 73°F, low 41°F, 1.2 in; Oct: high 56°F, low 34°F, 2.8 in; Nov: high 40°F, low 28°F, 3.5 in; Dec: high 32°F, low 23°F, 3.2 in32°24°Jan3.038°23°Feb2.048°28°Mar3.257°33°Apr2.368°41°May2.274°47°Jun2.384°51°Jul1.083°49°Aug0.873°41°Sep1.256°34°Oct2.840°28°Nov3.532°23°Dec3.2Rain and melted snow, inches

Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Newport, WA weather station (7 miles away).

Jobs in Bonner County

14,412 jobs at 1,833 businesses in Bonner County. The biggest industries by employees:

Largest industries in Bonner CountyRetail trade: 2,589 jobs; Hotels and restaurants: 2,314 jobs; Health care and social assistance: 1,798 jobs; Manufacturing: 1,790 jobs; Construction: 1,406 jobs; Administrative and support: 870 jobs; Other services: 683 jobs; Professional services: 634 jobsRetail trade 18% Hotels and restaurants 16% Health care and social assistance 13% Manufacturing 12% Construction 10% Administrative and support 6% Other services 5% Professional services 4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).

Health care

15 doctors and other health care providers list an office in Priest River.

Nearest hospitals

  • Newport Community HospitalCritical access hospital · emergency room · Newport6.6 miles
  • Bonner General HospitalCritical access hospital · emergency room · CMS rating 2 of 5 · Sandpoint18.1 miles
  • Northwest Specialty HospitalGeneral hospital · no emergency room · Post Falls31.2 miles

Providers with an office here

Primary care doctors3
Dentists2
Nurse practitioners and physician assistants3
Mental health providers4
Physical and occupational therapists1
Chiropractors2
Pharmacies2

Source: Hospitals from CMS Hospital General Information (ratings are CMS overall star ratings); straight-line distances; providers from the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), by practice address and primary specialty.

Places in and around Priest River

Parks (3 nearby)

  • Priest River City Park · 4 acres1.0 mi
  • Priest River Park1.2 mi

Grocery stores (1 nearby)

  • Mitchell's Harvest Foods1.3 mi

Libraries (1 nearby)

  • Priest River library0.9 mi

Counts are within about 1.5 miles of the center of town.

Source: Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (openstreetmap.org/copyright), as mapped by volunteers; it can miss places or include closed ones.

Schools in Priest River

Public schools here are run by West Bonner County District. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.

Public schools (3)
SchoolGradesStudentsTypeDistance
Priest Lake Elementary SchoolPriest LakePre-K–749Public24.0 mi
Priest River Elementary SchoolPriest RiverPre-K–6356Public1.4 mi
Priest River Lamanna HighPriest River7–12396Public1.7 mi

Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.

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Where Priest River is

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Towns near Priest River

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Town boundaries don’t always match ZIP codes: a ZIP code can cross into neighboring towns, and a town can share a ZIP code with its neighbors. Facts describe the town itself; market figures describe whole ZIP codes.