Quite a few Shoshone County miners own homes elsewhere

Shoshone County has some of the most profitable silver mines in America and some of the highest-paying jobs in North Idaho, but many of the people occupying those jobs call somewhere else home.

Meanwhile, the housing market in Shoshone has seen a dramatic increase in sales and home prices. Real estate broker Kim Cooper said average home prices in the Silver Valley have increased nearly 70 percent.

And despite such a large number of miners choosing to commute to the Silver Valley, Cooper said the housing boom in Shoshone County can be largely attributed to miners returning to work.

"We're seeing some higher-priced home selling in Shoshone now," Cooper said.

"Nobody could qualify for those houses before."

With an average annual income of $79,000, the salary of miners far exceeds the $37,500 average annual income for Shoshone employees not in the mining industry, according to data compiled by Idaho Department of Labor Regional Economist Alivia Metts.

Karen Hulstrom of Silver Legacy Realty said most of the new, higher-priced homes in the Silver Valley have been sold. And it's those new homes, Hulstrom said, that many miners are seeking.

Cindy Carlson of Cindy Carlson Realty said while the housing market has been strong, the inventory of homes is low.

"The newer homes for sale are all in Coeur d'Alene. We have very few new homes in Shoshone County," Carlson said, adding another reason many miners are looking elsewhere for homes: "Quite frankly, the taxes are much lower in Kootenai County."

Idaho Department of Labor statistics indicate nearly 40 percent of the miners - about 270 of 682 - live outside Shoshone County.

U.S. Silver and Gold Director of Human Resources Denis Asay said there could be a few general reasons why so many in the mining industry choose to commute.

"One reason is the housing options are better in Coeur d'Alene," Asay said. "There's also more to do there."

He added that many miners could be married to someone with a job outside the Silver Valley.

Hecla community outreach representative MIke Dexter said while he isn't sure why so many miners would choose to live outside the Shoshone County, he thinks Interstate 90 makes the commute to and from the Silver Valley easy.

Dexter also thinks asking why miners don't live in Shoshone County is the wrong question.

"I think the more appropriate question is why do people from outside come to the Silver Valley to work?" Dexter said. "The obvious answer to that is the jobs are better in the Silver Valley."

There may be some evidence pointing toward more miners buying homes in Shoshone County.

Margie Todd of Ridge River Realty said more miners are buying homes or waiting to buy homes in the area.