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Paul vs Parma

179 miles apart. The biggest differences: trails (2× in Parma) and age 65+ (+8.7 pts in Parma).

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Paul, IDKnown for its schoolsIdaho · 1,586 people
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Parma, IDKnown for its schoolsIdaho · 1,928 people
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Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

PaulKnown for its schools
SchoolsBetter than 21%of ID districts Housing$334K typical home30% below the ID typical home All about Paul →
ParmaKnown for its schools
SchoolsBetter than 74%of ID districts Health63% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates All about Parma →
The biggest differences

Where they differ most

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Trails2×
Parma has more miles of trail
Parma 0.2 miPaul 0.1 mi
Age 65++8.7 pts
Parma has more people 65 and up
Parma 19.5%Paul 10.8%
Jobs per worker+77%
Paul is more of a job hub
Paul 1.15Parma 0.65
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $1,030 more a month in Parma

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Paul$1,880/mo
Typical home $334K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.47% · or rent about $828/mo · Housing →
Parma$2,920/mo
Typical home $514K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.53% · or rent about $980/mo · Housing →

The difference: $1,030 a month, about $12,400 a year, between Parma and Paul.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Report cards

Grades and rankings, side by side

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every Idaho ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Safety
–PaulNot graded C+ParmaSafer than 44% of U.S. towns
Schools
C−PaulBetter than 21% of districts in the state B+ParmaBetter than 74% of districts in the state
Health
BPaulHealthier than 59% of U.S. towns C+ParmaHealthier than 37% of U.S. towns
Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons
PaulParma
Snow a year21″12″
January low18°F23°F
July high89°F92°F
Growing season (days)136d165d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)3rd22nd
Outdoors & history
PaulParma
Trails—0 mi
Conserved land—1.3%
Settled1907—
National Register places—2
Famous people born here33
Community
PaulParma
Library hours a week—24 hrs
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined00

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Where they are

179 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

PaulIDParmaID
Paul ↔ Parma179 miles apart
Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

PaulParma
People
Population 1,586Lowest 1,928Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +2.2%Lowest ID: +17.3% +5.7%Highest ID: +17.3%
Median age 31±10.5Lowest 17% below ID 35.9±5.5Highest 4% below ID
Parma and Paul are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 23.6%±6.5Lowest ID: 24.1% 28.9%±3Highest ID: 24.1%
Parma and Paul are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 10.8%±4.7Lowest ID: 17% 19.5%±3Highest ID: 17%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 13.1%Lowest ID: 31.8% 13.3%Highest ID: 31.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 7.6%±4.7Highest ID: 6.3% 1.8%±1.2Lowest ID: 6.3%
Paul and Parma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $66,500±$15kHighest 15% below ID $49,231±$10kLowest 37% below ID
Paul and Parma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $268,100±$44kLowest 36% below ID $274,300±$25kHighest 34% below ID
Parma and Paul are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $828±$119Lowest 33% below ID $980±$96Highest 21% below ID
Parma and Paul are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,266Lowest 38% below ID $1,447Highest 29% below ID
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 0%±11.2Lowest ID: 46.9% 41.7%±18.1Highest ID: 46.9%
Below poverty line 11.4%Lowest ID: 10.6% 21.3%Highest ID: 10.6%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 65.1%Lowest ID: 72.1% 65.6%Highest ID: 72.1%
Typical home builtmedian year 1972Lowest 19 yrs older than ID 1974Highest 17 yrs older than ID
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 24 minHighest 10% above ID 21 minLowest 5% below ID
Work from home 4.4%±5.7Highest ID: 13.3% 2.3%±1.7Lowest ID: 13.3%
Paul and Parma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 5.8%Lowest 10.5%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 6.3 miLowest 17.8 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 1.15Highest 0.65Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Burley (18%)Caldwell (13%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in ParmaFew work in Paul
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 2%Highest 1.3%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 0.1 miLowest 0.2 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.1 miLowest 0.2 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 0Lowest 1Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 114Lowest 121Highest
Schools
School district MINIDOKA COUNTY JOINT DISTRICTPARMA DISTRICT
High school in town None in townParma High School
Students per teacherat that high school — 15.7
Idaho average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024
Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Paul neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Paul’s Town Square.

Parma neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Parma’s Town Square.

Add a town

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Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.

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