# Moving to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho: relocation guide Source: https://shanegreenfield.com/moving-to-coeur-dalene Everything I tell people who are relocating to Coeur d'Alene and Kootenai County, plus a free guide you can download and keep. Download the free 16-page PDF: https://shanegreenfield.com/guides/coeur-dalene-relocation-guide.pdf ## Quick facts (Kootenai County) - Kootenai County population: 191,864 (2025) - Median household income: $82K - Median age: 40.9 - Growth since 2020: +12% Kootenai County figures from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Idaho Department of Labor. Unemployment was 4.3% in July 2026. ## Why people move here Kootenai County sits in the Idaho Panhandle, surrounded by mountains and more than twenty lakes. Lake Coeur d'Alene is right at the edge of downtown, and most of daily life here revolves around being outside. Low population density means quiet neighborhoods, light traffic and clean air. Home prices have climbed as more people discover the area, but property taxes and everyday costs are still lower than in most West Coast cities. Across the Inland Northwest you'll find more than 76 lakes and rivers, state and national parks, over 35 golf courses and 7 ski resorts within reach. ## Jobs and the local economy Health care, tourism and hospitality, construction and education drive the local economy, and manufacturing and professional services keep growing. Kootenai Health is the county's largest employer, followed by the Coeur d'Alene School District, Walmart and Hagadone Hospitality. Plenty of residents also commute to jobs in Spokane, about 40 minutes west on I-90. ## Healthcare Kootenai Health, a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network, runs the main hospital downtown plus several regional locations. Northwest Specialty Hospital is a physician-owned hospital for surgery, orthopedics, urgent care and more. Heritage Health is a community-governed nonprofit offering medical, dental and behavioral health care. Urgent care clinics in Coeur d'Alene, Post Falls and Hayden are open seven days a week, and there are well-established pediatric, women's health, family medicine and dental practices across the county. ## Schools and colleges Kootenai County is served by the Coeur d'Alene, Post Falls and Lakeland school districts, plus charter schools including Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy, Hayden Canyon Charter and STEM Academy. Coeur d'Alene also has magnet programs, like the arts and humanities at Sorensen Elementary and science at Ramsey Elementary. For college, North Idaho College is in Coeur d'Alene, and Lewis-Clark State College and the University of Idaho both have Coeur d'Alene campuses with four-year degrees. The University of Idaho also offers graduate programs here. ## Annual events - Car d'Lane (June): North Idaho's biggest classic car cruise on Friday night, then a show on Saturday where you can look under the hoods. - Ironman 70.3 (June): Triathletes swim Lake Coeur d'Alene, bike the hills and run to a finish line downtown. - Parade and fireworks (July 4): A parade down Sherman Avenue, a full day in City Park, and fireworks over the lake at dusk. - Street Fair and Art on the Green (July / August): The Downtown Street Fair, Taste of Coeur d'Alene and Art on the Green all happen the same weekend. - North Idaho State Fair (August): More than a week of food, a carnival, animals, rodeo and concerts. - Holiday Lighting Ceremony (November): A Black Friday parade on Sherman Avenue, carols and fireworks, then more than 1.5 million lights switch on downtown. - New Year's Eve fireworks (December 31): Fireworks over Lake Coeur d'Alene to ring in the new year. ## Things to do - On the lake: Cruise, paddle or boat Lake Coeur d'Alene. In winter, bald eagles gather at Wolf Lodge Bay to feed on kokanee. - Trails: Bike the North Idaho Centennial Trail or the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes, hike Tubbs Hill, or fly fish the St. Joe River. - Ski and golf: Several ski resorts are within driving distance, and golf courses are typically open from mid-April to mid-October. - Farmers markets: May through October: produce, flowers, meats, cheese, bread, honey and jams from local growers. - Shopping: Downtown Coeur d'Alene has more than 125 shops, restaurants and businesses. Riverstone and Hayden Creek Plaza cover the rest. - Art: Half a dozen galleries sit within a few blocks of each other downtown, perfect for a walking tour. ## Where to eat (local favorites, all locally owned) - Breakfast: Garnet Cafe, Le Peep, Michael D's Eatery, Wellness Bar, Belle's Brunch House, Chompers, Rustler's Roost, Dueling Irons, Terre Coffee & Bakery - Lunch and casual dinner: Izzy's Kitchen, Moon Time, Capone's, Roger's Burgers, Hudson's, Rokkos, Burger Dock, Big Bear Deli, Flame & Cork, Embers on the Green, Chochinito Taqueria - Date night: Tony's on the Lake, Satay, Angelo's Ristorante, Midtown Bluebird, Terraza, Wolf Lodge, Beverly's, Syringa, 315 Cuisine, Vine & Olive, White House Grill - Out with friends: Wine House CDA, Whispers, Crown & Thistle, Oval Office, Backwoods Whiskey Bar, Daft Badger, Post Falls Brewing, The Goat - With kids: Tomato Street, Moon Time, Fuki, Tito's, Capone's, Hudson's, Roger's Burgers, Flame & Cork - Coffee and pastries: Coeur d'Alene Coffee Co., Evans Brothers, Fine Brewed, Bakery by the Lake, Vault, Whoops, Union, Terre ## Parks - City Park and Independence Point: Swim beach, Fort Sherman Playground, volleyball and picnic areas right next to downtown. - McEuen Park: Coeur d'Alene's biggest playground, a splash pad, courts and an off-leash dog park. - Tubbs Hill: A 165-acre natural area with trails and lake views, a short walk from downtown. - Cherry Hill: 18-hole disc golf, a BMX track, courts, a dog park and the best sledding hill in town. - Atlas Mill Park: ADA-accessible swim area, water dog park and kayak launch on the Spokane River, plus Centennial Trail access. - Q'emiln Park (Post Falls): A 78.5-acre park with a guarded swim beach, boat launch and picnic shelters. - Heyburn State Park (Plummer): The oldest state park in the Pacific Northwest, with cabins, campsites and trails. ## Questions ### How far is Coeur d'Alene from an airport? Spokane International Airport is about 40 minutes west on I-90, with nonstop flights to major hubs. Coeur d'Alene also has a regional airport for private and general aviation. ### Is Coeur d'Alene expensive to live in? Home prices have risen with the area's popularity, but property taxes and everyday costs are still lower than in most West Coast cities. Prices vary a lot by town, so Post Falls, Rathdrum and Hayden can stretch a budget further than waterfront or downtown Coeur d'Alene. ### What are the winters like? Real winters with snow, but milder than most of the mountain West thanks to the lakes. Plan on a good set of tires, and expect summers that are warm, dry and the reason most people fall in love with the place. ### Can you help if I'm still living out of state? Yes. Most of my buyers are relocating. I do live video walkthroughs, check commutes and neighborhoods in person, and stay on top of new listings so you only fly out for homes worth seeing. ### Which town should I look at? It depends on how you want to live. My community guides cover Coeur d'Alene, Hayden, Hayden Lake, Post Falls, Rathdrum, Sandpoint, Sagle and Priest Lake, or call me and I'll help you narrow it down. Community guides: https://shanegreenfield.com/communities Search homes: https://shanegreenfield.com/search --- Shane Greenfield, REALTOR® · Living CDA Realty Group | eXp Realty · 601 E Front Ave #301, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814 · Call or text 208-640-1269 · sold@shanegreenfield.com