1st Advantage MortgageIn Gem County, Idaho, the typical household earns $64,605 a year and the typical rent is $1,038. 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
- Getting oriented in Gem County
- How Gem County residents earn a living
- What Gem County households earn
- What it costs to live in Gem County
- Towns and communities in Gem County
- Counties near Gem County
- People and households in Gem County
- Local borrowing considerations for Gem County
- What a median Gem County budget can carry
- Checking a lender's license in Idaho
- Steps before you apply in Gem County
- More guides for Gem County
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Gem County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Gem County's population at 20,614; only 18 of Idaho's 44 county-level areas are larger. It covers 560 square miles of land, or about 37 people per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Boise City, ID metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 2 places in the county (1 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Emmett, with about 8,275 residents, or 40% of the county.
How Gem County residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 22% of employed Gem County residents work in education and health care and 16% in construction. Compared with Idaho, the county leans toward construction (16% against 9%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 2.9% in Gem County. About 75% drive to work alone and 34% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 2.9% of households have no vehicle.
| Where residents work | Gem County | Difference from Idaho |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.5% | +0.1 pts |
| Construction | 15.7% | +6.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.5% | -1.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.1% | -0.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.8% | -2.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.7% | -2.0 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
What Gem County households earn
The median household income in Gem County is $64,605; statewide it is $77,800, so Gem County runs 17% below Idaho as a whole.
| Household income | Gem County | vs Idaho |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 22.0% | +3.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.8% | +3.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.2% | -3.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.0% | -2.2 pts |
The spread is wide: 31% of Gem County households make $100,000 or more, and 22% make less than $35,000. 12.0% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 10.6%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.425 here. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Gem County median.
What it costs to live in Gem County
A typical Gem County rental runs $1,038 a month including utilities, which is 16% below Idaho. 41% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 9% spend half or more. With a median value of $428,700, a typical Gem County house costs 6.6 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 76%.
| Gem County | Idaho | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,038/mo | $1,238/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $428,700 | $418,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 41% | 47% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 32% | 27% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 4% | 10% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Gem 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.
Towns and communities in Gem County
The table lists the 2 largest of 2 Census places in Gem County, by population. Together all 2 hold about 8,384 people, so roughly 59% of residents live outside any named place. Live in one of these Gem County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emmett | city | 8,275 | $58,750 | $1,042 | 14 mi |
| Letha | CDP | 109 | $85,761 | n/a | 17 mi |
Counties near Gem County
Six nearby counties, 18 to 56 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $54,000 in Washington County to $91,502 in Ada County; 4 of these neighbors top Gem County's median.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gem County | - | $64,605 | $1,038/mo | 76% |
| Payette County, ID | 18 mi | $67,673 | $860/mo | 75% |
| Washington County, ID | 33 mi | $54,000 | $938/mo | 75% |
| Canyon County, ID | 34 mi | $76,488 | $1,347/mo | 76% |
| Boise County, ID | 34 mi | $78,774 | $850/mo | 90% |
| Ada County, ID | 43 mi | $91,502 | $1,577/mo | 71% |
| Adams County, ID | 56 mi | $61,808 | $830/mo | 85% |
People and households in Gem County
21% of Gem County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 11.1%, against 9.1% for Idaho.
| Indicator | Gem County | All of Idaho | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.2 | 37.3 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.7% | 31.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.5% | 8.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 11.1% | 9.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.9% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.5% | 13.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.0% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.9% | 3.7% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Gem County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 38.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 11.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 20.7% |
| 60+ min | 13.4% |
Local borrowing considerations for Gem County
Based on the Gem County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Uninsured care. 11% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Long drives. With 34% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Gem County budgets.
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
What a median Gem County budget can carry
Gem County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $5,384 a month: gross income for a household at the Gem County median
- Housing at the median rent of $1,038 uses 19%
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,277 a month
Two-income households and single earners in Gem County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Checking a lender's license in Idaho
Gem County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by 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 Gem County
Steps that save money for Gem County residents:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Gem County.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Idaho borrowers.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
More guides for Gem County
For statewide rules and data, see the Idaho guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Gem County earn?
The median is $64,605; 31% earn $100,000 or more and 22% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
What do renters pay in Gem County?
$1,038 a month at the median, about 19% of median household income.
Which towns does the Gem County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 2 Census places: Emmett, Letha.
Are Gem County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Is there a Gem County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Idaho it is the Idaho Department of Finance.