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Quality of Life in Fremont County
A livable area that tracks near national norms for affordability, walkability, and neighborhood health.
What does Quality of Life tell us?
Quality of Life measures an area by evaluating factors like cost of living, nearby amenities, country club access, airport proximity, socioeconomic signals and neighborhood character. For large states, this is a general average — quality of life can vary dramatically between metro areas, suburbs, and rural communities within the same state.
What does this tell us?
Quality of Life measures an area by evaluating factors like cost of living, nearby amenities, country club access, airport proximity, socioeconomic signals and neighborhood character. For large states, this is a general average — quality of life can vary dramatically between metro areas, suburbs, and rural communities within the same state.
Cost of Living
19% below national average
90%
The Real Cost of Living in Fremont County for 2026
| Tier | Individual | Family (4) |
|---|---|---|
| Survival | $13k | $24k |
| Comfortable | $55k | $80k |
| Luxury | $116k+ | $180k+ |
| Elite (Top 5%) | $136k+ | $211k+ |
Quality-of-Life Analysis
Fremont County, Idaho, offers a quality-of-life spectrum that ranges from the resort-adjacent bustle of its largest town, St. Anthony, to the deep quiet of unincorporated pockets like Last Chance and Lake. The county’s character is defined by its position as the western gateway to Yellowstone National Park and the Teton Range, drawing a mix of outdoor recreationists, agricultural families, and remote workers seeking affordable land. With a cost of living index of 81 — well below the national average of 100 — the county provides a low-cost entry point to the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem, but the trade-offs in amenities and commute times vary sharply depending on which part of the county you choose.
Largest town(s) & population centers
St. Anthony, the county seat and largest town with roughly 3,600 residents, is the commercial and administrative hub. Daily life here centers on the intersection of U.S. Highway 20 and State Highway 47, with grocery stores, a hospital (Madison Memorial Hospital is 15 minutes away in Rexburg), and the Fremont County Courthouse. The town’s proximity to the St. Anthony Sand Dunes and the Henrys Fork of the Snake River makes it a base for off-road vehicle users and fly fishermen. Ashton, about 12 miles south, is smaller (roughly 1,000 residents) but serves as a secondary service center with a strong agricultural identity — it’s known as the “Seed Potato Capital of the World” and hosts the annual Idaho International Dance and Music Festival. Both towns have a median home value of $281,800 and a median rent of $803, but St. Anthony offers more rental inventory and a slightly wider range of retail and dining options, while Ashton feels more tied to the farming calendar.
Smaller towns & rural pockets
Beyond the two main towns, Fremont County’s smaller communities each have distinct characters. Drummond (population under 20) is a ghost town remnant along the railroad, with no services and a handful of year-round residents. Last Chance, near the Henrys Fork at the edge of the Caribou-Targhee National Forest, is a cluster of cabins and vacation homes popular with anglers and snowmobilers — it has no grocery store, and the nearest gas station is 20 minutes away in Ashton. Lake, an unincorporated area along the Henrys Fork, is a mix of working ranches and second homes, with the Teton River running through it. Parker and Teton are tiny agricultural hamlets (fewer than 300 residents each) where daily life revolves around potato and barley farming, and the nearest school or clinic is a 15-minute drive. The average commute across the county is 25 minutes, but residents of these rural pockets often face 30- to 40-minute drives to St. Anthony or Rexburg for basic errands.
Cost & lifestyle range
The cost of living index of 81 masks a wide internal spread. At the low end, Drummond and Parker offer land prices as low as $3,000–$5,000 per acre for raw agricultural parcels, with no HOA fees and minimal property taxes — but also no municipal water, sewer, or internet beyond satellite. At the higher end, Last Chance and Lake command premium prices for riverfront lots, with some properties exceeding $400,000, though still well below comparable Teton Valley or Jackson Hole prices. St. Anthony and Ashton sit in the middle: a typical 3-bedroom home in St. Anthony runs $280,000–$320,000, while a similar home in Ashton might be $250,000–$290,000. Renters pay a median of $803 per month countywide, but in St. Anthony, a 2-bedroom apartment averages $850–$950, while in rural areas, rental options are nearly nonexistent — most housing is owner-occupied or seasonal. Amenities follow the same gradient: St. Anthony has a library, a community pool, and a small hospital clinic; Ashton has a pharmacy and a hardware store; Drummond and Last Chance have none.
The people who thrive in Fremont County are those who value low-cost, land-based living and are willing to trade urban convenience for direct access to the outdoors. Retirees on fixed incomes, remote workers with reliable satellite internet, and farmers or ranchers who need affordable acreage all find a fit here. Families should note that the county’s school district (Fremont County School District #215) serves all communities but requires bus rides of up to 45 minutes for students in the most remote areas. The county is best suited to self-sufficient individuals who do not depend on walkable services or frequent cultural events — the nearest movie theater is in Rexburg, 20 minutes from St. Anthony, and the nearest major airport (Idaho Falls Regional) is an hour’s drive. For those who prioritize space, quiet, and a low cost of entry to the Rocky Mountain West, Fremont County delivers a wide range of options along that spectrum.
Crime in Fremont County
Lower crime rates than 76% of comparable U.S. locations.
Violent CrimeViolent Crime Analysis
Property CrimeProperty Crime Analysis
Crime Analysis
Fremont County, Idaho, presents a mixed safety profile that is generally more secure than the national average but warrants attention in specific areas. With a violent crime rate of 216.9 per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 611.7 per 100,000, the county offers a relatively low-risk environment compared to many parts of the country, though residents in certain towns should remain vigilant. The county's rural character and smaller population centers like St. Anthony, Ashton, and Island Park shape its crime dynamics, with property offenses being the more common concern for most households.
Crime in context
Fremont County's violent crime rate of 216.9 per 100,000 sits below the national average of approximately 380 per 100,000, but it is slightly elevated compared to Idaho's statewide rate of roughly 240 per 100,000. Property crime in the county, at 611.7 per 100,000, is significantly lower than the national average of about 1,950 per 100,000, though it aligns closely with Idaho's statewide property crime rate. This means that while violent incidents are less frequent than in many U.S. counties, property crimes like burglary and theft are the primary safety concern for residents. The county's proximity to Yellowstone National Park and the Teton Range brings seasonal tourism, which can temporarily increase property crime in gateway communities like Ashton and Island Park during peak summer months.
What residents experience
Daily life in Fremont County is generally safe, with most violent crimes occurring in isolated incidents rather than as a pervasive threat. The county seat, St. Anthony, sees a concentration of reported crimes due to its larger population and commercial activity, including occasional drug-related offenses and domestic disputes. In contrast, smaller communities like Parker and Teton report very low crime rates, often with years passing between serious incidents. Property crime, particularly theft from vehicles and outbuildings, is the most common offense residents encounter, especially in rural areas where homes are more isolated. The Fremont County Sheriff's Office and local police departments in St. Anthony and Ashton maintain a visible presence, but response times can be longer in remote parts of the county, such as the Warm River area or the Centennial Mountains region.
Neighborhood-level variation
Safety in Fremont County varies noticeably by location. The St. Anthony city limits, particularly near the downtown core and the Brigham Young University-Idaho satellite campus, experience higher rates of petty theft and vandalism compared to the surrounding agricultural areas. Ashton, a smaller farming community, has a reputation for being quieter but sees periodic property crime spikes during harvest season when transient workers pass through. Island Park, a popular recreation destination, faces seasonal challenges with theft from vacation rentals and vehicle break-ins at trailheads, though violent crime remains rare. The unincorporated areas around Chester and Newdale are among the safest, with crime rates well below county averages. The judicial system in Fremont County, overseen by the Seventh Judicial District, is generally considered conservative and law-and-order oriented, which contributes to a sense of accountability among offenders. Unlike some larger Idaho counties with more progressive prosecutorial policies, Fremont County's district attorney's office maintains a firm stance on property and drug crimes, helping to keep recidivism rates lower than in more urban jurisdictions. Residents in the county's eastern reaches, near the Targhee National Forest, should take standard precautions like locking vehicles and securing outbuildings, but overall, Fremont County offers a safe environment for families and retirees alike.
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-05-28T05:34:40.000Z
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