Malta, Idaho Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 346, Malta's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Malta is a small community located in Idaho, within Cassia County. The total population is 346. It ranks as the 167th most populous out of 232 Census-designated places in Idaho.

Age Demographics

The median age in Malta is 41.8 years. This is 12% higher than the state median of 37.3 years. With 40.5% of the population under 18, Malta has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Malta is $55,682. This is 28% lower than the state median of $77,800. It is also 31% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 57.8%. This is 446% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.6%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 1.8%. This is 51% lower than the state rate of 3.7%. The median home value is $159,300. Housing costs are 62% lower than the state median of $418,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.9x, Malta is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 84.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 16% higher than the state average of 72.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

Malta has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 98.8% of all residents.

Education

18.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 43% lower than the state rate of 31.8%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. No surveyed resident aged 25 or older reported leaving school before earning a high school diploma, though a rate of exactly 100% reflects the limits of a small sample.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Malta, Idaho is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Idaho state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 232 Census-designated places in Idaho. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.