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This small town in Kootenai County, Idaho, with a population of nearly 9,000, is among the most ideal secluded cities you can move to. Rathdrum is a resort town that has been an important crossroad for trade and traveling for decades.
Even today, it offers scenic views, a high-quality standard of life, affordable day-to-day living, and substantial financial opportunities. Not only is housing affordable, but everything else that comes with it is too. All you need to do is be willing to embrace the country lifestyle.
Rathdrum is a place ripe with opportunities. Located in the northern panhandle of Idaho, it is just five hours away from the Canadian border. The bustling cities of Coeur d’Alene and Spokane are also located extremely close, allowing you to commute there easily.
The average home price in the city is just shy of $500,000, and with a median income close to $65,000, your dream of home ownership can be one step closer. On top of all this, property taxes in the city are substantially low, making homes even more affordable. Have you been offered a job near Rathdrum, or do you just want to move for the country lifestyle? Here are some tips to ease your process:
1. Find Storage Units Before You Move
The best moving experience requires planning and preparation in advance. One of the most important steps to consider when moving to a city like Rathdrum is to acquire storage for your belongings.
There is an abundance of affordable storage units in Rathdrum Idaho, which means you can easily find a secure location for most of your items without any hassle. After renting a storage unit, you don’t have to worry about immediately getting a place big enough for all your furniture and other items. Whether you are moving to the city for a short or long-term period, a storage unit will always come in handy.
The cost of living in Rathdrum is low compared to both the state of Idaho as a whole and even the average in the US. At the same time, household incomes are higher, with taxes low. That being said, 79% of the population are homeowners, and the remaining rent the places they live in.
For a single-bedroom apartment, you may be looking to pay close to $1,000. And if this is your budget, you may not be able to fit all your belongings in the home just as you move. With a storage unit, you can find affordable accommodation for yourself and a safe place to keep your belongings.
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2. Make Sure You Get Help From a Local While Moving
Rathdrum is a resort town and, therefore, is surrounded by trees, mountains, and lakes. This natural topography can make it difficult to navigate the roads into the city and within it as well.
Especially when you are traveling from the Northwest, you’ll run into a lot of forested areas with landscapes that are intimidating, to say the least. More often than not, people get lost in the wilderness, and the frustration can run high, particularly because it is your first time in the area.
You can avoid all this hassle with a few different things. The first is to visit the area beforehand to find out basic things like where you would want to live and the surroundings of your new area of residence.
While you do this, it is always a good idea to get some local help. If you have a friend in the city, that works best, but in case you don’t, there are service providers like moving companies that can help make the move much simpler for you.
3. Know a Little About the Local Community
Rathdrum is all about the typical country lifestyle where communities are a crucial part of the local ecosystem. Since the population is extremely small, people usually know each other quite well. Moreover, unlike most suburban locations, Rathdrum has a relatively young population, with the biggest age group being between 25 and 44.
Married couples comprise roughly 65% of the population, while the rest are single adults. There is an equal mix of the population, so whether you are moving with your family or alone, you will be able to make friends easily.
Youth make up 8% of the total population in Rathdrum, while 45 to 64-year-olds are the second biggest segment at 22%. Although there isn’t a lot of racial diversity in the city, you’ll still come across people from various ethnicities, with Latinos and Hispanics being the most abundant.
Most of the people here work in retail trade, while sales, office jobs, and service occupations are some of the most popular. Rathdrum itself has a strong local economy, but at the same time, it is close to some modern cities, which offers a host of financial opportunities to avail.
4. Understand the Infrastructure
Rathdrum is by no means a backward or rural city. It has high-speed internet connections for all kinds of business and personal communications. The closest airport is just 4 miles away, making long-distance travel extremely easy.
At the same time, traffic is also low since there isn’t a lot of population, and with a good road network, you won’t run into any hassles while commuting. One thing that we leave for you to decide whether it is a benefit or not is the fact that there is no coastline close by.
The nearest one is more than 230 miles away. So, you’ll need to be content with the scenic mountain views, which is not exactly something to complain about.
5. The First Few Weeks Can Be Challenging
If you are coming from city life, moving to a small town like Rathdrum can be quite a challenge. Especially during the first few weeks, when you are adjusting to the new routines and finding out about your neighbors and the local community, you will definitely run into some issues. Some of these will be good, while others will sometimes be frustrating. However, one thing that is sure with Rathdrum is that the benefits will eventually but definitely outweigh the drawbacks.
Conclusion
Moving to a small city like Rathdrum, Idaho, is a substantial change. Knowing what to expect and how to prepare for it is crucial. This mountain resort town offers many pros, like the low cost of living, the overload of natural beauty, and a strong community that you can become a part of. However, there are certain cons, like the harsh winters and relatively suburban lifestyle. Nonetheless, the former will eventually outweigh the latter.
