United States › Idaho › Gem County COUNTY
Gem County Idaho · 21,773 residents (2025 est.) · 560 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS
The short version
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
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
Section 01
Population & growth from 15,181 in 2000
21,773 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
from 29 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 37.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
11K 14K 16K 19K 21K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Gem County Age distribution, 2024
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Section 02
Income & economy $64,605
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $34,460 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $15,340 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 20.1% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 13.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.409 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 5.7%
Professional, scientific, technical 3.5%
Transportation & warehousing 2.4%
Education & health services 1.9%
Public administration 1.6%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.4%
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$428,700
+137%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $99,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$1,038
+14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $502 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 79.8% in 2000
24.0% rent
from 6.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.55 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 29.5% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 40.7% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 3.8 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 90.7%(13,762)
Hispanic / Latino 6.9%(1,050)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 83.5%(17,211)
Hispanic / Latino 9.7%(1,992)
from 26 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
from 19 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Hispanic origin
+ 1 more hispanic origin group with data Ancestry
+ 17 more ancestry groups with data from 11.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 79.4% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 2.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 21.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 70.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 19.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 4.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 2.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 3.4% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 11.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 59.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 67.7% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 13.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 23.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 4.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 14.9% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 15.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 22.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 72.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 90.7% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 88.5% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 92.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 6.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 25.1%(2,161)
Women 15+
Never married 19.1%(1,596)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 22.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 42.2% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 20.2% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 25.1% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 19.6% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 4.9% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 61.9% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 40.4% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
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)
Gulf War (1990s) 24.3%(369)
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.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Gem County Head to head
Compare Gem County to nearby counties GEM COUNTY VS
Payette County
Income $67,673 +5%
Home value $341,800 −20%
Population 27,824 +28%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
GEM COUNTY VS
Washington County
Income $54,000 −16%
Home value $278,100 −35%
Population 11,583 −47%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
GEM COUNTY VS
Canyon County
Income $76,488 +18%
Home value $390,000 −9%
Population 275,123 +1164%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
GEM COUNTY VS
Boise County
Income $78,774 +22%
Home value $476,100 +11%
Population 8,545 −61%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Gem County, Idaho? Gem County, Idaho has about 20,614 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Gem County, Idaho? The typical household in Gem County, Idaho earns about $64,605 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Gem County, Idaho expensive? In Gem County, Idaho, the median home is worth about $428,700, and the typical rent is about $1,038 a month.
How educated are people in Gem County, Idaho? About 20.7% of adults age 25 and over in Gem County, Idaho hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Gem County, Idaho? About 12.0% of people in Gem County, Idaho live below the federal poverty line.
Has Gem County, Idaho grown since 1990? Yes, Gem County, Idaho has grown since 1990. The population has added about 8,770 residents, a change of about 74 percent over that period.
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