Population 20,614 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Gem County
Household size in Gem County
| Period | Gem County | Boise area | Idaho | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.56 | 2.75 | 2.72 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.60 | 2.79 | 2.78 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.60 | 2.75 | 2.76 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.74 | 2.71 | 2.79 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.18 | −0.05 | +0.07 | −0.03 |
Households in Gem County average 2.74 people, a bit above the national 2.65, so families with children are somewhat more common here. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.56, even as the national average fell. Households are largest in the southwest and smallest in the northeast.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Gem County
| Period | Gem County | Boise area | Idaho | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.4 | 34.6 | 35.5 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 43.9 | 35.8 | 36.6 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 44.6 | 37.2 | 37.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 44.3 | 38.4 | 38.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.0 | +3.8 | +2.7 | +2.3 |
Gem County skews older: half of its residents are older than 44.3, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 42.4, in line with the national trend.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Gem County
| Period | Gem County | Boise area | Idaho | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.8% | 10.5% | 10.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.3% | 10.4% | 10.2% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 13.0% | 9.5% | 9.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.5% | 9.3% | 9.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.7 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.7 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit less common in Gem County than nationally: 10.5%, against 11.6%. Even so, single parents are more common here than in the Boise area as a whole (9.3%). The single-parent share is up 1.7 points from 2006–10, even as the national share fell.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Gem County
Renters in Gem County
| Period | Gem County | Boise area | Idaho | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.6% | 29.5% | 29.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 27.3% | 31.9% | 30.8% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 25.2% | 30.3% | 30.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 24.0% | 27.5% | 27.9% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.4 pts | −2.0 pts | −1.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Gem County is largely a place of homeowners: only 24.0% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. More than four in ten owners (45.2%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 3.4 points, in line with the national trend.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Gem County
| Period | Gem County | Boise area | Idaho | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.5% | 7.9% | 10.4% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.6% | 7.2% | 11.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.5% | 5.6% | 10.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 4.9% | 5.6% | 9.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.6 pts | −2.3 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Empty homes are scarce in Gem County: just 4.9% sit vacant, compared with 9.6% nationally, a sign of a tight housing market. Vacancy has fallen 2.6 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Only one other Idaho county has a lower vacancy rate.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Gem County
| Period | Gem County | Boise area | Idaho | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1981 | 1989 | 1982 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1980 | 1989 | 1984 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1980 | 1991 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1985 | 1996 | 1989 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +7 | +7 | +6 |
Homes in Gem County are a bit newer than the national norm: the median home was built in 1985, versus 1980 across the U.S. Even so, homes here are older than in the Boise area as a whole, where the median home dates to 1996. The median year built has moved up from 1981 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the east, the oldest in the center.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Gem County
| Period | Gem County | Boise area | Idaho | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $831 | $884 | $766 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $798 | $921 | $820 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $760 | $1,075 | $941 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,059 | $1,700 | $1,407 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$228 | +$815 | +$641 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Gem County costs $1,059 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $228 a month from 2006–10, a 27% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 26.5% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the northeast; the highest are in the center.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Gem County
Bachelor's degrees in Gem County
| Period | Gem County | Boise area | Idaho | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.3% | 28.8% | 25.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 16.4% | 30.0% | 25.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 17.5% | 31.6% | 27.8% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 20.0% | 36.9% | 31.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.6 pts | +8.2 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Gem County: 20.0% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 7.6 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the west and least in the center.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Gem County
| Period | Gem County | Boise area | Idaho | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 83.4% | 89.5% | 88.7% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 85.9% | 90.1% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 87.4% | 91.7% | 90.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 89.4% | 92.7% | 92.1% | 89.3% |
| Change | +6.0 pts | +3.2 pts | +3.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Gem County have finished high school as nationally: 89.4%, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in the wider Boise area (92.7%). The share with a diploma is up 6.0 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Gem County
| Period | Gem County | Boise area | Idaho | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.4% | 7.7% | 7.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 13.2% | 8.4% | 8.1% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.9% | 4.3% | 4.4% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.0% | 3.2% | 3.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −5.4 pts | −4.5 pts | −3.2 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Gem County has been strong: just 3.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 5.4 points, mirroring the country. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Gem County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gem County | 2.74 | 44.3 | 10.5% | 24.0% | 4.9% | 1985 | $1,059 | 20.0% | 89.4% | 3.0% |
| Boise County | 2.32 | 52.0 | 5.6% | 9.7% | 32.9% | 1989 | $1,015 | 31.0% | 96.2% | 3.4% |
| Malheur County | 2.76 | 36.2 | 15.0% | 36.8% | 12.8% | 1972 | $843 | 15.4% | 82.1% | 4.7% |
| Madison County | 4.15 | 22.9 | 4.6% | 59.8% | 23.4% | 1996 | $1,057 | 29.5% | 98.5% | 9.2% |
| Weston County | 2.31 | 45.9 | 9.5% | 13.2% | 16.2% | 1976 | $753 | 20.8% | 91.3% | 1.4% |
| Custer County | 1.95 | 56.7 | 5.7% | 14.4% | 16.3% | 1993 | $1,227 | 31.7% | 95.2% | 2.1% |
| Jones County | 2.94 | 33.9 | 12.3% | 23.7% | 28.6% | 1973 | $543 | 27.4% | 93.2% | 2.1% |
| Lyman County | 3.54 | 36.8 | 17.8% | 30.1% | 22.4% | 1977 | $708 | 22.8% | 87.8% | 4.7% |
| Brule County | 2.58 | 41.8 | 10.0% | 23.6% | 15.6% | 1969 | $902 | 29.2% | 90.8% | 1.7% |
| Davison County | 2.22 | 41.7 | 10.0% | 38.5% | 9.2% | 1971 | $836 | 22.3% | 91.0% | 0.9% |
| Pipestone County | 2.34 | 40.6 | 8.8% | 19.2% | 8.7% | 1955 | $775 | 22.0% | 92.6% | 3.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Pike County, AR · Lincoln County, MT · Lincoln County, NM · Lincoln County, WI · Pawnee County, OK · Pecos County, TX · Pendleton County, KY · Pennington County, MN · Perquimans County, NC · Piatt County, IL
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Gem County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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