Gem County, Idaho Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Gem County is located in Idaho with a total population of 19,854. It is the 19th most populous county out of 44 in Idaho.

Age Demographics

The median age in Gem County is 42.8 years. This is 15% higher than the state median of 37.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Gem County is $66,245. This is 11% lower than the state median of $74,636. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 16% lower. The poverty rate stands at 10.4%. This is 2% lower than the state poverty rate of 10.6%. The unemployment rate is 2.8%. This is 23% lower than the state rate of 3.7%. The median home value is $367,300. Housing costs are 2% lower than the state median of $376,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.5x. 76.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 6% higher than the state average of 72.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Gem County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 84.0% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 9.3%. The Black or African American population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 0.7%. The Asian population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 1.3%.

Education

22.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 29% lower than the state rate of 31.2%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 89.0%.