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Nez Perce County, Idaho Demographics 2026

Nez Perce County, Idaho has a population of 42,697, the 10th most populous county in Idaho. The median household income is $72,599 and the median home value is $334,700. The poverty rate is 12.3%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Nez Perce County Quick Facts

Population 42,697
Median Household Income $72,599
Median Home Value $334,700
Poverty Rate 12.3%
Unemployment Rate 2.6%
Median Age 41.2 years
Homeownership Rate 70.4%
Affordability Ratio 4.6x
Bachelor's Degree+ 27.2%
High School Graduation 93.8%
Cities/Places 5
Population 42,697 10th of 44
Median Income $72,599 7% lower than state
Poverty Rate 12.3%
Unemployment 2.6%

How Nez Perce County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population42,47742,697+0.5%
Median household income$71,466$72,599+1.6%
Median home value$291,300$334,700+14.9%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 15.1%
$25K-$50K 21.6%
$50K-$100K 29.1%
$100K+ 34.2%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
4.2%
$10K-$15K
4.0%
$15K-$20K
3.8%
$20K-$25K
3.1%
$25K-$30K
4.5%
$30K-$35K
6.0%
$35K-$40K
3.0%
$40K-$45K
4.0%
$45K-$50K
4.1%
$50K-$60K
6.3%
$60K-$75K
8.6%
$75K-$100K
14.2%
$100K-$125K
11.2%
$125K-$150K
7.9%
$150K-$200K
7.9%
$200K+
7.1%

Employment

2.6% Unemployment Rate State: 3.7%|National: 5.2%
59.1% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 70.4%
Renter 29.6%
Affordability Index Moderate
4.6x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $1,015/mo 16.8% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

26out of 100
Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 36 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Nez Perce County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Lewiston34,651$72,19712.5%$333,700
Lapwai1,021$57,43919.4%$113,700
Culdesac411$49,16732.7%$160,400
Peck194$58,18230.4%$152,800
Sweetwater163$126,8754.3%$192,300

Population Overview

Nez Perce County is located in Idaho with a total population of 42,697. It is the 10th most populous county out of 44 in Idaho. The county encompasses 5 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Nez Perce County is 41.2 years. This is 10% higher than the state median of 37.3 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Nez Perce County is $72,599. This is 7% lower than the state median of $77,800. It is also 10% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 12.3%. This is 16% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.6%. The unemployment rate is 2.6%. This is 31% lower than the state rate of 3.7%. The median home value is $334,700. Housing costs are 20% lower than the state median of $418,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.6x. 70.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 2% lower than the state average of 72.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

Nez Perce County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 85.5% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 4.4%. The Black or African American population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 0.7%. The Hispanic or Latino population (4.4%) is well below the state average of 13.7%.

Education

27.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 15% lower than the state rate of 31.8%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 93.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Nez Perce County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Idaho and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Nez Perce County, Idaho?

Nez Perce County has a population of 42,697, making it the 10th most populous county in Idaho.

What is the median income in Nez Perce County?

The median household income in Nez Perce County is $72,599 with a poverty rate of 12.3%.

How many cities are in Nez Perce County, Idaho?

Nez Perce County contains 5 Census-designated places.