1st Advantage MortgageBlaine County households have a median income of $92,566 and median rent of $1,338 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Idaho before sharing details.
On this page
- Blaine County, ID: the basics
- How much Blaine County households make
- Work, industries and travel time in Blaine County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Blaine County
- Blaine County and the counties next door
- Places inside Blaine County
- Budget math at the Blaine County median
- Reading the Blaine County data as a borrower
- People and households in Blaine County
- Four steps for Blaine County borrowers
- Idaho rules that apply in Blaine County
- More guides for Blaine County
- Frequently asked questions
Blaine County, ID: the basics
With an estimated 24,951 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Blaine County ranks 17th of 44 in Idaho for population. It covers 2,638 square miles of land, or about 9 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 6 Census places inside Blaine County, Hailey leads by population with about 9,665; 5 of the 6 are incorporated.
How much Blaine County households make
Blaine County households have a median income of $92,566 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 2nd of 44 in Idaho.
| Band | Blaine County | Compared with Idaho |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 12.0% | -7.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.8% | -0.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 30.7% | +2.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 14.5% | +5.3 pts |
Some 12% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 45% have six-figure incomes. 6.6% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 10.6%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.484 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $92,566 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Work, industries and travel time in Blaine County
By the Census industry count, 16% of employed Blaine County residents work in construction and 16% in arts, lodging and food service. The sharpest difference from the state is in arts, lodging and food service, at 16% locally and 9% for Idaho. Averaged over the five survey years, 2.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 7% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 1.3% of households have no vehicle.
| Where residents work | Blaine County | Difference from Idaho |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 16.4% | +7.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 16.3% | +7.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 14.0% | +3.5 pts |
| Education and health care | 13.9% | -8.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.0% | -0.6 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 6.2% | +0.5 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Blaine County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Rent, home values and ownership in Blaine County
Renters in Blaine County pay a median of $1,338 a month, 8% above the Idaho figure of $1,238. 31% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 10% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $735,300, about 7.9 times the median household income. Owners occupy 74% of homes. The median year built is 1987.
| Measure | Blaine County | Idaho | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,338/mo | $1,238/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $735,300 | $418,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 74% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 31% | 47% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 35% | 27% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Blaine County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
Blaine County and the counties next door
Six nearby counties, 30 to 52 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Jerome County leads the group on income ($71,724), Butte County trails ($53,015), and Blaine County out-earns 6 of the six.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blaine County | - | $92,566 | $1,338/mo | 74% |
| Lincoln County, ID | 30 mi | $71,453 | $1,021/mo | 79% |
| Minidoka County, ID | 40 mi | $70,377 | $900/mo | 69% |
| Camas County, ID | 42 mi | $57,955 | $1,000/mo | 80% |
| Butte County, ID | 44 mi | $53,015 | $608/mo | 78% |
| Jerome County, ID | 51 mi | $71,724 | $966/mo | 75% |
| Gooding County, ID | 52 mi | $63,559 | $880/mo | 71% |
Places inside Blaine County
Here are the 6 most populous of the county's 6 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 75% of Blaine County residents live in one of the 6. Sun Valley has the highest median household income on the list ($125,987) and Carey the lowest ($59,375), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $1,063 in Carey to $1,460 in Hailey. Live in one of these Blaine County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hailey | city | 9,665 | $90,760 | $1,460 | 19 mi |
| Ketchum | city | 3,594 | $93,046 | $1,186 | 29 mi |
| Bellevue | city | 2,588 | $72,712 | $1,109 | 16 mi |
| Sun Valley | city | 1,460 | $125,987 | n/a | 28 mi |
| Carey | city | 1,196 | $59,375 | $1,063 | 6 mi |
| Gannett | CDP | 284 | n/a | n/a | 11 mi |
Budget math at the Blaine County median
Here is the Blaine County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Median income divided by twelve: $7,714 before taxes
- Housing at the median rent of $1,338 uses 17%
- Under a 40% cap, $3,086 total minus rent leaves $1,748
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Reading the Blaine County data as a borrower
Based on the Blaine County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Retirees. At a median age of 45.6, many borrowers here rely on award letters as proof of income; favor no prepayment penalty.
- Higher earners. 45% of households clear $100,000; shop at least three lenders and pick the shortest term.
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
People and households in Blaine County
College graduates make up 48% of the adult population. About 9% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Blaine County | Idaho | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.6 | 37.3 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 48.0% | 31.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.5% | 8.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.0% | 9.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 1.3% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 14.6% | 13.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 6.6% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.1% | 3.7% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Blaine County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 50.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 25.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.7% |
| 60+ min | 3.0% |
Four steps for Blaine County borrowers
Before you apply, wherever you live in Blaine County:
- Price the Blaine County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Idaho borrowers.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Idaho rules that apply in Blaine County
Consumer lenders serving Blaine County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Idaho that is the Idaho Department of Finance. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. The Idaho guide covers state rules in more detail.
More guides for Blaine County
For statewide rules and data, see the Idaho guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Blaine County household make?
About $92,566 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 19% above the Idaho median.
How does Blaine County rent compare with Idaho?
$1,338 locally versus $1,238 for the state, 8% above.
Should Blaine County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 74% of Blaine County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
I live in a small Blaine County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Hailey, Ketchum, Bellevue, Sun Valley, Carey and 1 more.
Does living in Blaine County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Blaine County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.