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Challis, ID

Full City Profile · Idaho · Custer County County

3.0 /5.0
B Good
794 Population 403/sq mi density
$50,034 Median Income $25,310 per capita
$168,300 Home Value $318,710 Zillow
$635 Median Rent 19.8% income on rent
44°F Avg Temperature 293 sunny days/yr
184 Violent Crime/100K 736 property/100K
B
Overall
3.0 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B
Economy
3.3 / 5.0
$50,034 median income, 0.9% unemployment
A+
Affordability
4.8 / 5.0
$168,300 home value, $635/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
184 violent crimes/100K
C+
Education
2.8 / 5.0
22.9% bachelor's degree or higher
Challis has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 44°F (7°C). Winters average 20°F in January while summers reach 69°F in July. The area gets 293 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 6.9 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 33.

Temperature

20°F Jan (-7°C) 69°F Jul (21°C)
Annual Average44.4°F
18% below US avg
January Average20°F (-7°C)
July Average69°F (21°C)
Sunny Days293 days/yr

Geography

Elevation5,216 ft (1,590 m)
Area1.9 sq mi (4.8 km²)
Population Density403/sq mi
Coordinates44.5058°N, 114.2283°W
TimezoneAmerica/Boise
CountyCuster County County
Nearest AirportBoise Air Trml/Gowen Field (BOI)
119 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 6.9"
82% below US avg
Wettest Month (May) 1.22"
Driest Month (Feb) 0.59"

Air Quality

AQI Median33.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Low
Risk Score52.4 / 100
Social Vulnerability91.6 / 100
Community Resilience10.0 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Very Low
Earthquake Relatively Low
Wildfire Relatively Low
Flood Relatively Low
Hail Very Low
Strong Wind Very Low
Heat Wave Very Low
Winter Weather Relatively Low
Lightning Relatively Low
Ice Storm Very Low
Drought Very Low
Cold Wave Relatively Low
Landslide Relatively High
Volcano Very Low
Avalanche Very High
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

1,716 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M6.5. Most recent: M2.6 on Jul 20, 2025.

Mar 31, 2020 Stanley, Idaho M6.5 71 km
Aug 20, 1999 22 km NW of Lima, Montana M5.1 118 km
Jan 3, 2015 9 km E of Challis, Idaho M5.0 9 km
Feb 26, 2024 10 km N of Smiths Ferry, Idaho M4.9 150 km
Jun 7, 1994 18 km E of Challis, Idaho M4.8 18 km
Apr 1, 2020 21 km WNW of Stanley, Idaho M4.8 77 km
Apr 13, 2014 15 km NNW of Challis, Idaho M4.8 15 km
Jun 25, 2020 27 km NW of Stanley, Idaho M4.6 77 km
May 4, 1992 20 km E of Challis, Idaho M4.6 20 km
Apr 9, 2019 9 km NE of Lima, Montana M4.6 138 km
May 6, 1992 17 km E of Challis, Idaho M4.4 18 km
Apr 14, 2014 13 km NW of Challis, Idaho M4.4 13 km
Apr 1, 2020 23 km NW of Stanley, Idaho M4.4 77 km
May 14, 2020 31 km NW of Stanley, Idaho M4.4 79 km
Dec 28, 1991 southern Idaho M4.4 11 km
May 21, 2020 26 km NW of Stanley, Idaho M4.4 75 km
Jun 8, 2025 24 km E of Clayton, Idaho M4.3 29 km
Feb 17, 1992 33 km NNE of Stanley, Idaho M4.3 43 km
Jan 28, 1995 33 km NNE of Stanley, Idaho M4.3 44 km
Mar 22, 1992 11 km NE of Challis, Idaho M4.3 11 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Tornado History

6 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF1.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Jun 15, 1987 EF1 78 km 0
Aug 24, 1984 EF1 71 km 0
Jun 1, 1956 EF1 81 km 0
Jun 21, 2018 EF0 92 km 0
Aug 20, 2014 EF0 84 km 0
Apr 24, 2008 EF0 3 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Nearby Volcanoes

4 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Craters of the Moon (134 km).

Name Type Elevation Last Eruption Distance
Craters of the Moon Pyroclastic cone(s) 2,005 m (6,578 ft) -130 134 km
Black Butte Crater Lava Field Shield 1,478 m (4,849 ft) -8400 147 km
Hell's Half Acre Shield 1,631 m (5,351 ft) -3250 181 km
Wapi Lava Field Shield 1,604 m (5,262 ft) -300 198 km
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP). Sorted by distance.

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: DIAMOND COMPLEX (DIAMOND PEAK) (271,361 ac, 2000).

Year Name Acres Distance
2000 DIAMOND COMPLEX (DIAMOND PEAK) 271,361 81 km
2012 HALSTEAD 190,156 60 km
2000 CLEAR CREEK DIVIDE COMPLEX (CLEAR CREEK) 170,322 78 km
2022 MOOSE 142,221 90 km
2021 BOUNDARY 97,995 76 km
1987 DEADWOOD 57,051 94 km
2000 SALMON CHALLIS WILDERNESS COMPLEX (LITTLE PISTOL) 53,790 81 km
2007 SHOWER BATH COMPLEX (SHOWER BATH) 50,967 28 km
2007 SHOWER BATH COMPLEX (RED BLUFF) 50,106 59 km
2007 CASTLE ROCK 48,430 96 km
1988 GOLDEN 48,138 88 km
2005 VALLEY ROAD 40,801 61 km
2022 ROSS FORK 40,690 89 km
2006 MIDDLE FORK COMPLEX 33,860 49 km
2018 RABBIT FOOT 33,787 38 km
2006 RED MOUNTAIN 33,403 93 km
2023 HAYDEN 32,292 48 km
1985 BUTTE 28,559 98 km
2006 BOUNDARY COMPLEX 26,628 86 km
2003 MIDDLE FORK COMPLEX (FALCONBERRY) 26,625 46 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 20°F (-7°C) 0.8 in Coldest
February 25°F (-4°C) 0.6 in Driest
March 32°F (0°C) 0.8 in
April 39°F (4°C) 0.6 in
May 48°F (9°C) 1.2 in Wettest
June 57°F (14°C) 1.2 in
July 69°F (21°C) 0.9 in Warmest
August 63°F (17°C) 0.9 in
September 55°F (13°C) 0.8 in
October 44°F (7°C) 0.6 in
November 30°F (-1°C) 0.8 in
December 20°F (-7°C) 0.8 in

Challis has a seasonal temperature swing of 49°F / from 20°F in January to 69°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 9.9 inches, with May being the wettest month (1.2") and February the driest (0.6").

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