1st Advantage MortgageAbout 75% of Payette County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $67,673. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Payette County at a glance
- Rent, home values and ownership in Payette County
- How much Payette County households make
- Jobs and commutes in Payette County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Payette County
- How Payette County compares with nearby counties
- Debt-to-income at Payette County's medians
- What the numbers mean for Payette County borrowers
- More Payette County figures
- Licensing and complaints for Payette County
- Checklist for Payette County applicants
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Payette County at a glance
With an estimated 26,771 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Payette County ranks 14th of 44 in Idaho for population. Packed into 407 square miles, that is close to 66 residents for every square mile of land. No metropolitan area includes Payette County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 3 Census places inside Payette County, Payette leads by population with about 8,536; 3 of the 3 are incorporated.
Rent, home values and ownership in Payette County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $860 in Payette County versus $1,238 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 35% of renter households here. With a median value of $341,800, a typical Payette County house costs 5.1 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 75% of homes.
| Home costs | Payette County | Idaho | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $860/mo | $1,238/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $341,800 | $418,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 75% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 35% | 47% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 30% | 27% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 15.1% | 6.9% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 4% | 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).
How much Payette County households make
At $67,673, the typical Payette County household income is 3% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 21st of 44.
| Household income | Payette County | vs Idaho |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 19.9% | +0.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 51.2% | +7.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.8% | -5.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.0% | -3.2 pts |
Some 20% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 29% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 10.2%, the same as the state's 10.6%. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Jobs and commutes in Payette County
Education and health care employs 25% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 13%. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 8% of workers here, versus 4% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.2% in Payette County. Long commutes are common here: 15% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 3.7% of the total (3.7% statewide).
| Industry | Share of Payette County workers | vs Idaho |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.5% | +2.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.1% | +3.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.6% | -3.0 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.3% | +3.3 pts |
| Public administration | 8.2% | +3.4 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 8.0% | +4.0 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Payette County
3 Census places fall mainly inside Payette County; the 3 biggest are below. They account for 16,993 residents, leaving about 37% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Fruitland has the highest median household income on the list ($65,457) and Payette the lowest ($55,208), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $798 in Fruitland to $1,062 in New Plymouth. No Payette County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 3.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Payette | city | 8,536 | $55,208 | $837 | 10 mi |
| Fruitland | city | 6,663 | $65,457 | $798 | 9 mi |
| New Plymouth | city | 1,794 | $65,375 | $1,062 | 4 mi |
How Payette County compares with nearby counties
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Payette County's, from 18 to 62 miles away. Income ranges from $54,000 in Washington County to $91,502 in Ada County; 3 of these neighbors top Payette County's median.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Payette County | - | $67,673 | $860/mo | 75% |
| Gem County, ID | 18 mi | $64,605 | $1,038/mo | 76% |
| Canyon County, ID | 26 mi | $76,488 | $1,347/mo | 76% |
| Washington County, ID | 31 mi | $54,000 | $938/mo | 75% |
| Ada County, ID | 46 mi | $91,502 | $1,577/mo | 71% |
| Boise County, ID | 51 mi | $78,774 | $850/mo | 90% |
| Adams County, ID | 62 mi | $61,808 | $830/mo | 85% |
Debt-to-income at Payette County's medians
Payette County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,639 before taxes
- Less median rent of $860, which is 15% of it
- 40% debt-to-income limit: $1,396 left for all other debt payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
What the numbers mean for Payette County borrowers
Based on the Payette County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- 15% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
- Consolidating cards in Payette County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
More Payette County figures
17% of Payette County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 7.1% of residents have no health coverage.
| Payette County | Idaho | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.9 | 37.3 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 17.3% | 31.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 13.8% | 8.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.1% | 9.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.7% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.9% | 13.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.2% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.2% | 3.7% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 39.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 33.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.8% |
| 60+ min | 7.4% |
Licensing and complaints for Payette County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Payette County, check the Idaho Department of Finance. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. The Idaho guide covers state rules in more detail.
Checklist for Payette County applicants
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Payette County.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Payette County-area credit union.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Idaho.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Related local guides
The Idaho guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Payette County a high-income county?
Its $67,673 median ranks 21st of 44 Idaho counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Payette County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $860 a month; 35% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I own my home in Payette County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 75% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Does this page cover Payette?
Yes, along with the other 2 Census places in Payette County, such as Fruitland, New Plymouth.
Are Payette 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.