1st Advantage MortgageJerome County households have a median income of $71,724 and median rent of $966 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Who lives in Jerome County
- What Jerome County households earn
- What it costs to live in Jerome County
- Work, industries and travel time in Jerome County
- The counties around Jerome County
- Jerome County towns compared
- What a median Jerome County budget can carry
- Who lives in Jerome County, in numbers
- Local borrowing considerations for Jerome County
- Four steps for Jerome County borrowers
- Checking a lender's license in Idaho
- More guides for Jerome County
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Jerome County
With an estimated 25,173 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Jerome County ranks 16th of 44 in Idaho for population. It covers 598 square miles of land, or about 42 people per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Twin Falls, ID metropolitan area. Jerome is the biggest of its 3 Census places, at roughly 12,930 people (51% of the county total).
What Jerome County households earn
At $71,724, the typical Jerome County household income is 9% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 16th of 44.
| Yearly household income | Jerome County | Gap to Idaho |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.9% | +1.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 48.1% | +4.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.3% | -4.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.7% | -1.5 pts |
About 21% of households earn under $35,000, while 31% clear $100,000. Census counts 12.6% of Jerome County residents in poverty, against 10.6% across Idaho. For a borrower in Jerome County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
What it costs to live in Jerome County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $966 in Jerome County versus $1,238 statewide. By the Census definition, 35% of Jerome County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $271,800, about 3.8 times the median household income. Owners occupy 75% of homes. Median construction year: 1983.
| Measure | Jerome County | Idaho | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $966/mo | $1,238/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $271,800 | $418,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 75% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 35% | 47% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 29% | 27% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 9.5% | 6.9% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 6% | 10% | 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).
Work, industries and travel time in Jerome County
By the Census industry count, 17% of employed Jerome County residents work in education and health care and 14% in manufacturing. Compared with Idaho, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (13% against 4%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.6% in Jerome County. 7% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 6% work from home.
| Sector | Jerome County | Compared with Idaho |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 16.7% | -5.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.6% | +4.2 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 13.4% | +9.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.9% | -0.7 pts |
| Construction | 8.9% | -0.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.9% | -0.8 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
The counties around Jerome County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (21 to 51 miles). Income ranges from $63,559 in Gooding County to $92,566 in Blaine County; 1 of these neighbors top Jerome County's median.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jerome County | - | $71,724 | $966/mo | 75% |
| Lincoln County, ID | 21 mi | $71,453 | $1,021/mo | 79% |
| Twin Falls County, ID | 31 mi | $67,409 | $1,089/mo | 70% |
| Minidoka County, ID | 34 mi | $70,377 | $900/mo | 69% |
| Gooding County, ID | 34 mi | $63,559 | $880/mo | 71% |
| Cassia County, ID | 43 mi | $70,830 | $1,000/mo | 69% |
| Blaine County, ID | 51 mi | $92,566 | $1,338/mo | 74% |
Jerome County towns compared
The table lists the 3 largest of 3 Census places in Jerome County, by population. Together all 3 hold about 14,328 people, so roughly 43% of residents live outside any named place. This guide covers each of the 3 places and the rural areas around them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jerome | city | 12,930 | $66,894 | $947 | 13 mi |
| Hazelton | city | 977 | $57,656 | $692 | 9 mi |
| Eden | city | 421 | $34,250 | $933 | 7 mi |
What a median Jerome County budget can carry
How much room does a median Jerome County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $5,977 a month: gross income for a household at the Jerome County median
- Median rent: $966, or 16 cents of every gross dollar
- With a 35% ceiling, about $1,126 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- 45% debt-to-income limit: $1,724 left for all other debt payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Jerome County's.
Who lives in Jerome County, in numbers
College graduates make up 14% of the adult population. 14.8% of residents have no health coverage.
| Jerome County | Idaho | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.0 | 37.3 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 14.0% | 31.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 26.5% | 8.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 14.8% | 9.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.2% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.8% | 13.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.6% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.6% | 3.7% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 39.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 34.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.6% |
| 60+ min | 4.9% |
Local borrowing considerations for Jerome County
Where the Jerome County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Health costs. With 15% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Jerome County borrower sees (free reports).
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
Four steps for Jerome County borrowers
Steps that save money for Jerome County residents:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Verify the Idaho license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Checking a lender's license in Idaho
Jerome 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.
More guides for Jerome County
The Idaho guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Jerome County a high-income county?
Its $71,724 median ranks 16th of 44 Idaho counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Jerome County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $966 against $1,238 statewide, and 35% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Should Jerome County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 75% of Jerome County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Which towns does the Jerome County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 3 Census places: Jerome, Hazelton, Eden.
Is the fit check different in Jerome County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.