Median household income in Idaho is $77,800 and median rent is $1,238 a month, per Census 2020 to 2024 estimates. Compare at least three written offers on APR and total cost, verify the lender's license with the Idaho Department of Finance, and never pay a fee before funding.
On this page
- Idaho by the numbers
- What the numbers mean for Idaho borrowers
- Largest places in Idaho
- More Idaho cities and towns
- Counties with the most residents
- How Idaho earns a living
- More context for Idaho budgets
- Checking a lender in Idaho
- Can Idaho residents use the questionnaire?
- Local guides in Idaho
- Frequently asked questions
Idaho by the numbers
Sixteen budget-related measures for Idaho, set against the national figure and ranked from highest to lowest among the 51 jurisdictions (Census Bureau ACS, 2020 to 2024).
| Measure | Idaho | U.S. | Rank (1 = highest) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $77,800 | $80,734 | 25th |
| Households earning under $35,000 | 19% | 21% | 36th |
| Households earning $100,000 or more | 37% | 41% | 28th |
| Poverty rate | 10.6% | 12.5% | 35th |
| Jobless rate, 5-year ACS | 3.7% | 5.2% | 41st |
| Median gross rent per month | $1,238 | $1,413 | 25th |
| Rent-burdened renters (30%+) | 47% | 51% | 36th |
| Median home value | $418,600 | $332,700 | 13th |
| Homeownership rate | 72% | 65% | 8th |
| Cost-burdened owners with a mortgage | 27% | 28% | 21st |
| Home value to income ratio | 5.4x | 4.1x | 9th |
| Commutes of 45 minutes or longer | 11% | 17% | 39th |
| Workers who work from home | 13% | 15% | 26th |
| Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree | 32% | 36% | 36th |
| Median age | 37.3 | 38.9 | 44th |
| Gini index (inequality) | 0.444 | 0.483 | 46th |
What the numbers mean for Idaho borrowers
Commutes shape budgets too: 11% of Idaho workers travel 45 minutes or more each way (U.S.: 17%), and 13% work from home. Working from home cuts commuting costs but can make income harder to document if you are a contractor.
Poverty affects 10.6% of Idaho residents (U.S. 12.5%), and the five-year average unemployment rate was 3.7%. If your job is seasonal or hourly, lenders may ask for more months of statements to see a steady pattern.
Idaho is an owner-heavy state for homeownership: 72% of occupied homes are owned, against 65% nationally. The median value of $418,600 equals 5.4 years of median income. 27% of mortgaged owners are housing-cost burdened, versus 28% nationally.
In Idaho, 37% of households report $100,000 or more in income and 19% report under $35,000, against 41% and 21% for the country. If your household sits under $30,000 a year, start with credit unions, creditor hardship plans and nonprofit counseling before a personal loan.
Largest places in Idaho
Big-city snapshot for Idaho, ranked by population; a linked name means a full local guide is available.
| Place | County | Residents | Median household income | Median gross rent | Median home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boise | Ada County | 237,242 | $83,904 | $1,446 | $484,800 |
| Meridian | Ada County | 130,138 | $100,795 | $1,805 | $531,600 |
| Nampa | Canyon County | 110,319 | $74,279 | $1,420 | $370,800 |
| Idaho Falls | Bonneville County | 67,725 | $73,110 | $1,075 | $335,500 |
| Caldwell | Canyon County | 66,516 | $73,058 | $1,264 | $367,300 |
| Pocatello | Bannock County, Power County | 57,635 | $60,418 | $948 | $271,000 |
| Coeur d'Alene | Kootenai County | 56,447 | $72,338 | $1,468 | $483,500 |
| Twin Falls | Twin Falls County | 54,164 | $61,205 | $1,082 | $321,300 |
| Post Falls | Kootenai County | 43,391 | $82,183 | $1,469 | $477,400 |
| Rexburg | Madison County | 40,543 | $50,617 | $1,004 | $395,100 |
| Lewiston | Nez Perce County | 34,651 | $72,197 | $1,027 | $333,700 |
| Eagle | Ada County | 32,855 | $122,894 | $1,765 | $772,900 |
Of the places the Census Bureau tracks in Idaho, 25 have 10,000 or more people and 8 have 50,000 or more. The income gap between towns is wide: among places over 20,000, Eagle has the highest median at $122,894 and Rexburg the lowest at $50,617. Rents differ just as much, from a median $927 a month in Moscow to $1,805 in Meridian.
More Idaho cities and towns
From Kuna (27,158 residents) down to Weiser (5,935).
| Place | Residents | Median income | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kuna | 27,158 | $96,219 | $1,774 |
| Moscow | 26,286 | $57,022 | $927 |
| Ammon | 19,064 | $86,121 | $1,372 |
| Mountain Home | 16,493 | $63,125 | $1,155 |
| Hayden | 16,338 | $82,958 | $1,733 |
| Chubbuck | 16,126 | $82,977 | $1,048 |
| Star | 14,745 | $97,936 | $1,924 |
| Jerome | 12,930 | $66,894 | $947 |
| Blackfoot | 12,782 | $64,032 | $839 |
| Garden City | 12,654 | $70,124 | $1,323 |
| Burley | 11,958 | $67,468 | $984 |
| Rathdrum | 10,874 | $86,563 | $1,459 |
| Middleton | 10,649 | $89,013 | $1,147 |
| Hailey | 9,665 | $90,760 | $1,460 |
| Sandpoint | 9,637 | $72,289 | $1,125 |
| Payette | 8,536 | $55,208 | $837 |
| Emmett | 8,275 | $58,750 | $1,042 |
| Fruitland | 6,663 | $65,457 | $798 |
| Rupert | 6,190 | $54,741 | $856 |
| Weiser | 5,935 | $45,292 | $927 |
Measured as a year of median rent against median household income, housing weighs most in Hayden (25%) and least in Fruitland (15%) among these 20 places.
Counties with the most residents
The largest 16 of Idaho's 44 counties, by population.
| County | Population | Median income | Median rent | Median home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ada County | 518,935 | $91,502 | $1,577 | $512,300 |
| Canyon County | 250,790 | $76,488 | $1,347 | $390,000 |
| Kootenai County | 181,996 | $81,861 | $1,492 | $518,700 |
| Bonneville County | 129,523 | $79,068 | $1,133 | $368,800 |
| Twin Falls County | 93,734 | $67,409 | $1,089 | $337,900 |
| Bannock County | 89,454 | $66,499 | $960 | $300,700 |
| Madison County | 54,618 | $60,160 | $1,014 | $414,800 |
| Bonner County | 51,049 | $66,979 | $1,122 | $487,900 |
| Bingham County | 49,664 | $77,878 | $874 | $293,300 |
| Nez Perce County | 42,697 | $72,599 | $1,015 | $334,700 |
| Latah County | 41,049 | $65,424 | $929 | $368,600 |
| Jefferson County | 33,154 | $86,679 | $1,138 | $408,400 |
| Elmore County | 29,321 | $65,359 | $1,243 | $316,500 |
| Payette County | 26,771 | $67,673 | $860 | $341,800 |
| Cassia County | 25,483 | $70,830 | $1,000 | $284,600 |
| Jerome County | 25,173 | $71,724 | $966 | $271,800 |
Teton County posts the highest county median income in Idaho at $99,805, while Lewis County posts the lowest at $51,615.
How Idaho earns a living
The jobs mix in Idaho: the four largest industries by share of employed residents 16 and older.
| Industry | Share of Idaho workers | National share | Gap vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education, health care and social assistance | 22% | 24% | -1.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 12% | 11% | +0.8 pts |
| Professional, scientific and administrative services | 11% | 13% | -2.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9% | 10% | -0.5 pts |
Compared with the country, Idaho leans most toward agriculture, forestry, fishing and mining, at 4% of workers against 2% nationally. Whatever the sector, bring proof of income that covers at least the last two months.
More context for Idaho budgets
Idaho renters pay a median $1,238 a month. 47% of them spend 30 percent or more of income on rent, below the national share of 51%. For a renter, the safest loan is the smallest one that fixes the problem, sized to what is left after rent.
Idaho's Gini index of income inequality is 0.444 (U.S.: 0.483; higher means more unequal), 32% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree, and the median resident is 37.3 years old.
The median household in Idaho earns $77,800 a year, 4% below the national median of $80,734, which ranks 25th among the 50 states and the District of Columbia. A lender never sees the state median, only your own documented income, but the median tells you what a typical payment has to fit inside.
Checking a lender in Idaho
Any lender offering loans in Idaho should be able to show a license or a bank charter. For state-level questions, the CSBS directory points to the Idaho Department of Finance.
- Legitimate lenders take fees out of the loan or bill them later, never by gift card or wire first (FTC).
- CFPB complaints reach the lender and are tracked by a federal regulator.
- NMLS Consumer Access shows many lenders' licenses state by state.
Can Idaho residents use the questionnaire?
Partner availability depends on the state. For Idaho, the questionnaire checks coverage at the location step and never asks for contact details when no partner can help.
Local guides in Idaho
Prefer the view from your own city? 1 Idaho place has a full guide:
Frequently asked questions
Where do I check a lender's license in Idaho?
The state banking agency listed for Idaho by the Conference of State Bank Supervisors is the Idaho Department of Finance. NMLS Consumer Access lists many lenders' licenses, and the CFPB accepts complaints from every state.
How much does a typical Idaho household earn?
$77,800 a year in the 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, 25th among the 50 states and DC; the national median is $80,734.
What is the median rent in Idaho?
Median gross rent is $1,238 a month, and 47% of renter households spend 30 percent or more of income on rent (ACS 2020 to 2024). Nationally the figures are $1,413 and 51%.
What share of Idaho households earn $100,000 or more?
37% of households, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 estimates, while 19% earn under $35,000. Lenders look at your own documented income, not these shares.