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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Gem County

Idaho · 19,123 residents · 560 sq mi
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The short version

With 19,123 people, Gem County is a county in Idaho. 19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 33% national rate. Owners hold 78% of the housing stock. At a median age of 44.1, this is an older place than the country as a whole. The population is up 26% since 2000. 4% of locals were born outside the United States.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 44.1
US median: 38.8
Less educated
19% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 33%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

19,123
+26%since 2000
from 15,181 in 2000
1990 – 2025
44.1
+18%since 2000
from 37.5 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
560 sq mi
Population, 19902024
11K14K16K19K21K19902000201020202024Gem County
202421K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 55.5%(1,059)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.9%(1,328)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 147.1%(1,350)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 196.2%(1,185)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.4%(842)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 349.9%(1,901)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4410.8%(2,058)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5410.8%(2,072)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6415.3%(2,930)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7413.3%(2,547)
US avg: 10%
75 to 847.3%(1,392)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over2.4%(459)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$53,720
+4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $34,460 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
$26,671
+74%since 2000
from $15,340 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
29.8%
+9.7 ptssince 2009
from 20.1% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
13.9%
+0.9 ptssince 2000
from 13.1% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information14.5%
US avg: 11.1%
Wholesale trade12.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance7.8%
US avg: 5.5%
Retail trade7.1%
US avg: 10%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing4.7%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction4.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Professional, scientific, technical4.2%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing4.1%
US avg: 2.5%
Education & health services3.6%
US avg: 0.8%
Other services3.1%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration1.8%
US avg: 4.7%
Manufacturing0.5%
US avg: 0.5%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

$198,700
+33%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $99,500 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
$664
−12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $502 in 2000
US average: $1,124
77.9%
−1.8 ptssince 2000
from 79.8% in 2000
22.1% rent
2.58 people
+1%since 2009
from 2.55 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
3.7
−3%since 2009
from 3.8 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic90.7%(13,762)
Black0.1%(11)
Hispanic / Latino6.9%(1,050)
Asian0.4%(54)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic84.4%(16,132)
Black0.2%(29)
Hispanic / Latino9%(1,722)
Asian0.5%(99)
Other3.6%(685)
19
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
Mexican6.6%(1,180)
Peruvian1.2%(218)
Puerto Rican0.5%(83)
Cuban0.1%(16)
Spaniard0.1%(16)
Asian origin
Vietnamese0.2%(38)
Filipino0.2%(31)
Japanese0.1%(12)
Thai0.1%(12)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0.1%(16)
Ancestry
German18.7%(3,321)
English16.3%(2,900)
American10.8%(1,927)
Irish9.2%(1,634)
Scottish3%(525)
Norwegian2.8%(502)
Italian2.7%(471)
Dutch2.5%(451)
French1.8%(318)
Danish1.7%(297)
Swedish1.6%(280)
Polish1.6%(276)
+ 20 more ancestry groups with data
British1.5%(266)
Scotch-Irish1.1%(189)
Welsh1%(171)
Swiss0.6%(107)
Finnish0.3%(47)
Portuguese0.2%(44)
Croatian0.2%(40)
Ukrainian0.2%(35)
Russian0.1%(25)
Armenian0.1%(22)
Austrian0.1%(22)
West Indian0.1%(19)
Hungarian0.1%(18)
Greek0.1%(13)
Czech0.1%(12)
Canadian0.1%(10)
Iraqi0%(6)
Haitian0%(5)
Section 05

Education

18.9%
+7.5 ptssince 2000
from 11.4% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
87.4%
+8.0 ptssince 2000
from 79.4% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
5.2%
+2.4 ptssince 2000
from 2.8% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

28.8 min
+33%since 2000
from 21.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
80.8%
+10.5 ptssince 2009
from 70.3% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
5.6%
+2.2 ptssince 2009
from 3.4% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

3.1%
−8.8 ptssince 2011
from 11.8% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
56.5%
−3.2 ptssince 2011
from 59.8% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
67.7%
US average: 73.3%
28.3%
+4.8 ptssince 2009
from 23.5% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

49.3%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 49.8% in 2009
50.7%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 50.2% in 2009
4.3%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 4.1% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
16.8%
−5.3 ptssince 2013
from 22.1% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
90.7%
US average: 91.9%
88.5%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married25.1%(2,161)
Married53.9%(4,649)
Widowed3%(260)
Divorced18%(1,555)
Women 15+
Never married19.1%(1,596)
Married59.1%(4,933)
Widowed7.7%(643)
Divorced14.1%(1,177)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

16.8%
−5.3 ptssince 2013
from 22.1% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
42.2%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
20.2%
US average: 13.7%
25.1%
US average: 17.6%
19.6%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
4.9%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
61.9%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
40.4%
US average: 35.2%

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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later)11.7%(200)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)12.2%(208)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era45.9%(783)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War9.8%(167)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II1.2%(21)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 1,707 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
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Gem County, Idaho?

Gem County, Idaho has about 19,123 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Gem County, Idaho?

The typical household in Gem County, Idaho earns about $53,720 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 $198,700, and the typical rent is about $664 a month.

How educated are people in Gem County, Idaho?

About 18.9% 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 13.9% 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 7,279 residents, a change of about 61 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →