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Home        Vol  VII    Issue 1           January 3, 2012         Previous Issues

In a Rugged Landscape, Scenic Coeur d'Alene, Idaho Boasts a Small Town Ambiance, Healthy Living, a Rich Quality of Life and Breathtaking Lake Views

Cost of Living:  Meets the U.S. National Average

Surrounded by steep, pristine mountains, seemingly endless forests and dozens of high altitude lakes (60 lakes are within 60 miles), Coeur d'Alene is cozy, hip and very relaxed.   The median home price is $210,000, down 25% since 2008, and residences range from modest ranch-style homes to stunning mountain chalets with lake views.   Apartments are also available, with one bedroom rents ranging from approximately $450 to $550 per month and with two bedroom rents ranging from $550 to $950 per month.  A few mobile home parks are here as well.

Idaho is considered a tax-friendly state.  It does not tax Social Security and lets people age 65 or better deduct other retirement income, less Social Security, up to $41,418 (married) and up to $27,876 (single).    Real estate is assessed at its full market value, but a 50% homestead exemption, up to $94,040, is allowed.  People age 65 or better may also qualify for a circuit-breaker program which may reduce property taxes by as much as $1,320 annually.  In Coeur d'Alene, yearly property taxes on a $210,000 home are approximately $1,150.  The state sales tax is 6%, but prescription drugs are exempt.

 This is an interactive map.  Click on the arrows in the upper left hand corner to move the map to the East, West, North or South, and click on the +/- signs (more than once if necessary) to zoom in and out.

In a land of tall trees and big skies, Lake Coeur d'Alene is the center of recreational activity here.  With 135 miles of shoreline, it brings out boaters, parasailors, water skiers, fishermen and anyone else who enjoys the water (a boardwalk and picnic areas near downtown welcome those who prefer to stay on dry land).    The massive, impressive Coeur d'Alene Resort, with its championship golf course and floating 14th green, is spread along the lake's horizon and has been named by Golf Digest as America's most beautiful resort golf course, noting that it is "not just an escape; it is an experience."    The views of the lake from anywhere on shore are indeed spectacular, with steep, rugged mountains seeming to jut out of the amazingly blue water.   

In addition to water activities, summers bring the chance to camp and hike.  During the winter, residents ice fish on the frozen lake, snowmobile, cross country ski and snowshoe across hundreds of miles of nearby mountain trails (and two downhill ski resorts are within close proximity).  And as if to prove its rugged outdoor bona fides, the city hosts the annual Ironman Coeur d'Alene competition, which attracts 2,000 athletes who each swim 2.4 miles, bicycle 112 miles and run 26 miles, all within a 17 hour period.

Coeur d'Alene shopping and dining options are plentiful, with five-star restaurants, wine shops, bookstores, antique stores, brew pubs and coffee houses dotting the trendy downtown.   Public art, including painted moose statues, add to the city's charm.    The Plaza Shops is an upscale, enclosed mall and the site of book signings, fashion shows, concerts and art displays.   There is no Wal-Mart in town, but two are within ten miles.  For people in need of more shopping options, big-city fun and cultural amenities, Spokane, Washington (population 205,000), with its theaters, malls, restaurants and museums, is just 35 miles to the west.

North Idaho College has a good selection of non-credit classes that includes everything from "Financial Basics for Women" to "Beginning Watercolor Painting."   The new Coeur d'Alene public library is a true treat.  Just four years old, it is spacious, airy and offers breathtaking views of Lake Coeur d'Alene.   Workshops, lectures, discussion groups and classes are standard fare, and 45 public access computers make reaching the Internet fast and easy.

Kootenai Medical Center (246 beds and home to the respected Kootenai Heart Center) is accredited by the Joint Commission and has been named a Top 100 Hospital, out of 2,000 facilities, by Cleverley and Associates.  The percentage of patients who would recommend it to a friend exceeds the national average, and both Medicare and Medicaid patients are accepted.   Spokane, Washington, half an hour away, has four hospitals, all of which are award-winning.  For military retirees, Coeur d' Alene has a VA outpatient clinic, and Spokane has a VA hospital.

Senior services are provided through the Area Agency on Aging and by the Lake City Senior Center, founded in 1983, which has the mission of "providing for the nutritional, social and educational needs of citizens age 60 and better."   Activities and programs include a congregate noon meal Monday through Friday ($4 donation), various clubs (knitters, cards, line dancing, etc.) and a travel group.

Free, fixed route local transportation is provided by CityLink, a partnership of several groups, including the Coeur d'Alene Indian tribe.  It travels to the medical center, shopping venues, recreation sites and more and operates out of the Coeur d'Alene Casino Resort Hotel.   Coeur d'Alene is located on I-90 and US Highway 95, so it is accessible, but it is still "way up there" and can feel a little isolated.   The Spokane International Airport has daily non-stop flights to all major hubs, and the Coeur d'Alene Airport accommodates small private aircraft.   North Idaho Community Express travels to and from neighboring towns.

Coeur d'Alene summers are nothing short of spectacular, with low humidity and temperatures rarely rising above 85 degrees.    With an elevation of nearly 2,000 feet above sea level, winters are cold but peaceful, with temperatures in the teens, 20s and 30s.   Up to 80 inches of snow falls each season, and skies are often gray.  On the comfort index, a combination of temperature and humidity, Moscow ranks well above the national average.   The sun shines 175 days of the year.  The air quality is above the national average, but water quality is below the national average.

Retirement here has a few drawbacks.   Tourists descend in the summer, and traffic becomes thick and heavy.   Not all long time residents are happy with the relatively recent gentrification of their old logging town.  Ethnic diversity has not yet reached Coeur d'Alene, in any way whatsoever.

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