With 20,614 people, Gem County is a county in Idaho. 21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. At a median age of 44.2, this is an older place than the country as a whole. The population is up 36% since 2000. Owners hold 76% of the housing stock. Density works out to 37 people per square mile.
At a glance
Lower income
median household income $64,605, below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 44.2
US median: 38.9
Less educated
21% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 137%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place
What stands out about Gem County
What changed most since 1990
Median home value (2024 dollars)$111,363 → $428,700(+285%)US over the same years: +67%
White share92.9% → 83.5%(−9.4 pts)US over the same years: −17.8 pts
Population11,844 → 20,614(+74%)US over the same years: +35%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans
Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)24.7%(375)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)24.3%(369)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era32.7%(496)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War2%(31)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0.3%(5)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 1,517 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time
Gem County, decade by decade
Gem County population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
11,844
$51,589
$111,363
8.6%
16.8
2000
15,181
$62,774
$181,255
11.4%
21.6
2010
16,719
$61,562
$232,617
12.6%
24.9
2020
19,123
$65,111
$240,832
18.9%
34.9
2024
20,614
$64,605
$428,700
20.7%
36.2
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
