1st Advantage MortgageThe median Camas County household earns $57,955, and 6% of residents live below the poverty line. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Idaho license first.
On this page
- Camas County by the numbers
- Rent, home values and ownership in Camas County
- What Camas County households earn
- How Camas County residents earn a living
- Towns and communities in Camas County
- How Camas County compares with nearby counties
- Camas County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- What the numbers mean for Camas County borrowers
- Debt-to-income at Camas County's medians
- Checking a lender's license in Idaho
- Steps before you apply in Camas County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Camas County by the numbers
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Camas County's population at 1,124; only 42 of Idaho's 44 county-level areas are larger. It covers 1,074 square miles of land, or about 1 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Camas County is not part of any metropolitan area. Fairfield, with about 499 people, is the only Census place mainly inside the county. Because Camas County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
Rent, home values and ownership in Camas County
A typical Camas County rental runs $1,000 a month including utilities, which is 19% below Idaho. 53% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 9% spend half or more. With a median value of $304,000, a typical Camas County house costs 5.2 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 80% of homes.
| Housing | Camas County | Idaho statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,000/mo | $1,238/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $304,000 | $418,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 80% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 53% | 47% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 45% | 27% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 8.7% | 6.9% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare). When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
What Camas County households earn
Half of Camas County households take in less than $57,955 a year and half take in more, 26% below the Idaho median of $77,800. That places it 38th among Idaho's 44 county-level areas.
| Household income | Camas County | vs Idaho |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.9% | +6.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.5% | -0.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.4% | -6.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 9.2% | 0.0 pts |
The spread is wide: 31% of Camas County households make $100,000 or more, and 26% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 5.9%, 5 points lower than the state's 10.6%. A household earning below the $57,955 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
How Camas County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Camas County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 24% of workers, followed by construction (17%). The sharpest difference from the state is in construction, at 17% locally and 9% for Idaho. About 66% drive to work alone and 55% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 4.1% of the total (3.7% statewide).
| Sector | Camas County | Compared with Idaho |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.3% | +1.9 pts |
| Construction | 17.4% | +8.0 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 11.7% | +7.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.5% | +1.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.4% | -2.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 7.7% | -3.9 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Towns and communities in Camas County
Fairfield is the only Census place mainly inside Camas County, with about 499 of the county's 1,124 residents. None of the 1 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairfield | city | 499 | $71,250 | $1,125 | 11 mi |
How Camas County compares with nearby counties
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Camas County's, from 36 to 59 miles away. All of the six report a higher median household income than Camas County; Blaine County is highest at $92,566 and Gooding County lowest at $63,559.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camas County | - | $57,955 | $1,000/mo | 80% |
| Elmore County, ID | 36 mi | $65,359 | $1,243/mo | 66% |
| Gooding County, ID | 37 mi | $63,559 | $880/mo | 71% |
| Blaine County, ID | 42 mi | $92,566 | $1,338/mo | 74% |
| Lincoln County, ID | 47 mi | $71,453 | $1,021/mo | 79% |
| Boise County, ID | 58 mi | $78,774 | $850/mo | 90% |
| Custer County, ID | 59 mi | $67,574 | $691/mo | 77% |
Camas County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 34% of the adult population. 11.9% of residents have no health coverage.
| Camas County | Idaho | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.8 | 37.3 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 34.4% | 31.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 13.0% | 8.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 11.9% | 9.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.1% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 21.2% | 13.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 5.9% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
What the numbers mean for Camas County borrowers
Where the Camas County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Uninsured care. 12% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Vehicle repairs. 55% of Camas County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Tight rental budgets. With 53% of Camas County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
Debt-to-income at Camas County's medians
Here is the Camas County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Start: $4,830 gross per month ($57,955 / 12)
- Housing at the median rent of $1,000 uses 21%
- At 35%, room after rent is $690 a month
- $1,173: what a 45% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Two-income households and single earners in Camas County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Checking a lender's license in Idaho
Consumer lenders serving Camas County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Idaho that is the Idaho Department of Finance. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. Statewide data and rules: Idaho guide.
Steps before you apply in Camas County
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Verify the Idaho license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Ask a Camas County credit union about member loans.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Idaho guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Camas County?
$57,955 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $77,800 for Idaho. It ranks 38th of 44 in the state.
How much is rent in Camas County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,000 a month; 53% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I own my home in Camas County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 80% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
I live in a small Camas County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Fairfield.
Is the fit check different in Camas County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.