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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Gem County

Idaho · 19,123 residents · 559.769 sq mi
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The short version

Gem County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $53,720. Population has grown 26% since 2000. 19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 33%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $198,700. With a median age of 44.1, the population is older than the US median of 38.8.

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

Total population
19,123
+26%since 2000
from 15,181 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
44.1
+18%since 2000
from 37.5 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
11K14K16K19K21K1990201020202024Gem 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

Median household income
$53,720
+4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $34,460 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$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%
Poverty rate
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

Median home value
$198,700
+33%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $99,500 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$664
−12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $502 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
77.9%
−1.8 ptssince 2000
from 79.8% in 2000
22.1% rent
Afford Score
3.7
−3%since 2009
from 3.8 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Gem County on RentDataNow
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)
Segregation Score
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)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest English population · Largest American population · Largest Irish population · Largest Mexican population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
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%
Graduate degree
5.2%
+2.4 ptssince 2000
from 2.8% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
28.8 min
+33%since 2000
from 21.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
80.8%
+10.5 ptssince 2009
from 70.3% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
5.6%
+2.2 ptssince 2009
from 3.4% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.1%
−8.8 ptssince 2011
from 11.8% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
56.5%
−3.2 ptssince 2011
from 59.8% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
28.3%
−28.3 ptssince 2009
from 56.6% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.3%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 49.8% in 2009
Female
50.7%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 50.2% in 2009
Foreign born
4.3%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 4.1% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
16.8%
−61.1 ptssince 2013
from 77.9% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
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
Drill deeper

Places similar to Gem County

Gilchrist County
Pop 20,488
Lamar County
Pop 20,941
Long County
Pop 21,557
Fayette County
Pop 20,790
Places similar to Gem County
Head to head

Compare Gem County to nearby counties

GEM COUNTY VS
Payette County
Income$67,673+26%
Home value$341,800+72%
Population27,824+28%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
GEM COUNTY VS
Washington County
Income$54,000+1%
Home value$278,100+40%
Population11,583−47%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
GEM COUNTY VS
Canyon County
Income$76,488+42%
Home value$390,000+96%
Population275,123+1164%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
GEM COUNTY VS
Boise County
Income$78,774+47%
Home value$476,100+140%
Population8,545−61%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
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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Explore from here

4 census tracts
Census Tract 9602Census Tract 9601Census Tract 9603.01Census Tract 9603.02
4 ZIP codes
ZIP 83617ZIP 83670ZIP 83657ZIP 83636
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →