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Valley County, Idaho Demographics 2026

Valley County, Idaho has a population of 12,389, the 28th most populous county in Idaho. The median household income is $76,078 and the median home value is $657,000. The poverty rate is 11.7%.

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

Valley County Quick Facts

Population 12,389
Median Household Income $76,078
Median Home Value $657,000
Poverty Rate 11.7%
Unemployment Rate 4.8%
Median Age 46.9 years
Homeownership Rate 81.9%
Affordability Ratio 8.6x
Bachelor's Degree+ 40.1%
High School Graduation 91.0%
Cities/Places 5
Population 12,389 28th of 44
Median Income $76,078 2% lower than state
Poverty Rate 11.7%
Unemployment 4.8%

How Valley 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
Population12,13612,389+2.1%
Median household income$76,125$76,078-0.1%
Median home value$599,500$657,000+9.6%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 15.3%
$25K-$50K 12.7%
$50K-$100K 34.0%
$100K+ 38.0%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
5.6%
$10K-$15K
3.1%
$15K-$20K
3.1%
$20K-$25K
3.5%
$25K-$30K
3.1%
$30K-$35K
2.8%
$35K-$40K
2.5%
$40K-$45K
2.1%
$45K-$50K
2.3%
$50K-$60K
6.5%
$60K-$75K
15.0%
$75K-$100K
12.5%
$100K-$125K
12.3%
$125K-$150K
6.1%
$150K-$200K
9.7%
$200K+
9.8%

Employment

4.8% Unemployment Rate State: 3.7%|National: 5.2%
51.5% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 81.9%
Renter 18.1%
Affordability Index Very Expensive
8.6x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $1,117/mo 17.6% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

18out of 100
Very 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 Valley County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
McCall3,946$60,25316.0%$676,500
Cascade1,118$53,75032.0%$346,100
Donnelly195N/A44.6%$369,200
Smiths Ferry66$87,2920.0%$437,500
Yellow Pine17N/A0.0%N/A

Population Overview

Valley County is located in Idaho with a total population of 12,389. It is the 28th most populous county out of 44 in Idaho. The county encompasses 5 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Valley County is 46.9 years. This is 26% higher than the state median of 37.3 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Valley County is $76,078. This is 2% lower than the state median of $77,800. It is also 6% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 11.7%. This is 10% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.6%. The unemployment rate is 4.8%. This is 28% higher than the state rate of 3.7%. The median home value is $657,000. Housing costs are 57% higher than the state median of $418,600. The home-value-to-income ratio of 8.6x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 81.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 14% higher than the state average of 72.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

Valley County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 90.1% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 5.4%. The Black or African American population (0.0%) is well below the state average of 0.7%. The Hispanic or Latino population (5.4%) is well below the state average of 13.7%. The Asian population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 1.3%.

Education

40.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 26% higher 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 91.0%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Valley 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 Valley County, Idaho?

Valley County has a population of 12,389, making it the 28th most populous county in Idaho.

What is the median income in Valley County?

The median household income in Valley County is $76,078 with a poverty rate of 11.7%.

How many cities are in Valley County, Idaho?

Valley County contains 5 Census-designated places.