Ucon
Compact Bedroom City on US-20 North of Idaho Falls
Why People Move Here
Ucon is a compact 0.79-square-mile bedroom city of ~1,374 residents in Bonneville County, roughly 8 miles north of Idaho Falls along US-20. Originally settled in 1883 as Willow Creek and renamed several times before settling on Ucon in 1911, the city once briefly outpaced Idaho Falls in population when it had a downtown amusement hall, mercantile, and hotels — before the railroad bypassed it for neighboring Menan and Roberts. Today Ucon functions as a quiet Snake River Plain commuter city with Ucon Elementary within its limits, Yellowstone Bear World 10 minutes up US-20, and daily access to both Rigby and Idaho Falls.
Key Statistics
Data sourced from census records, school district reports, and local transit authorities.
Commute Times
School Districts
Bonneville Joint School District #93
B~13,646 students across the district
- Ucon Elementary School (K-5, 'Home of the Wildcats') — located within Ucon city limits; offers a Gifted & Talented program
- Rocky Mountain Middle School (grades 6-8, Ammon area)
- Hillcrest High School (Ammon, 9-12) — typical attendance zone for Ucon residents
- District-wide: 13,646 students across 26 schools (2024)
FAQ — Ucon
How far is Ucon from Idaho Falls?
Approximately 8 miles north via US-20 — about a 12-minute drive off-peak and 15 minutes in rush hour. Ucon sits between Idaho Falls and Rigby along US-20 and is within the Idaho Falls commuter shed.
What schools serve Ucon?
Bonneville Joint School District #93 — 13,646 students across 26 schools (2024). Ucon Elementary School (K-5, 'Home of the Wildcats') is located within Ucon city limits and offers a Gifted & Talented program. Rocky Mountain Middle School serves grades 6-8 and Hillcrest High School in Ammon serves grades 9-12. Verify enrollment eligibility by address.
What is the history of Ucon's name?
The city was first settled in 1883 as 'Willow Creek'. It was renamed 'Ako' in 1903, then 'Elva' in 1908, and finally 'Ucon' in 1911 — the final name reportedly drawn from a jar by local citizens. In its early years Ucon briefly outpaced Idaho Falls in population and featured an amusement hall, movie house, mercantile store, hotels, and a pool hall before the railroad bypassed Ucon for neighboring Menan and Roberts.
What is the housing market like in Ucon?
Redfin 2025 data shows a median list price around $449K across a very thin inventory (2 single-story homes at sample time). With only about 500 housing units in a 0.79-square-mile footprint, Ucon's market is highly sample-dependent. Prices run below the Idaho statewide median of approximately $512,500 (November 2025).
How close is Ucon to Yellowstone Bear World?
Approximately 10 minutes northeast on US-20, placing the drive-through wildlife park within an easy day trip. The park features free-roaming American black and grizzly bears, bison, elk, and Rocky Mountain goats, and is open mid-May through mid-October.
What parks and outdoor recreation are in Ucon?
Ucon City Park is the central neighborhood park with playground and picnic areas, and the Ucon Pit sledding hill is popular with locals in winter. The Snake River Greenbelt paved trail is about 15 minutes southwest in downtown Idaho Falls, and Heise Hot Springs (hot pool, waterslide, golf course) is about 20 minutes east in Ririe.
How does Idaho's tax structure affect Ucon residents?
Idaho has a 5.3% flat state income tax (reduced from 5.69% effective January 1, 2025) applied on income above the standard deduction. State sales tax is 6% with no local option in Bonneville County. Bonneville County's 2025 overall average effective property tax rate is approximately 0.702% (urban ~0.857%, rural ~0.393%) per Idaho State Tax Commission data.
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