Gem County, ID Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Gem County | Idaho Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 20,197 | 1,920,240 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 35.8 | 23.0 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 2.38% | 2.11% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 41.4 | 38.5 | 37.1 |
| Households | 7,406 | 693,697 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Gem County grew by 21.3% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 19,854 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Gem County has a the economy index of D, which means it is barely prosperous.
| Metric | Gem County | Idaho Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $67,053 | $74,676 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 7.39% | 6.16% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 2.8% | 3.7% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Gem County is about 10% lower than in Idaho.
Housing
| Metric | Gem County | Idaho Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $114,622 | $355,887 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $886 | $1,150 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 76.6% | 72.4% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Gem County is about 10.8 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $886 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Gem County spend about 62 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 259 hours, about 10.8 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Gem County | Idaho Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 31.1 | 17.9 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 62.2 | 35.9 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 259 | 149 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $8,032 | $4,633 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 12.6% | 12.2% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 9,234 | 4,714 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 1,290 | 865 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
Idaho:
Lemhi County (8.9 min), Custer County (10.6 min), Madison County (11.8 min).
Slowest:
Camas County (43.9 min), Boise County (35.5 min), Lincoln County (32.8 min).
The average commute time in Gem County is 31 minutes, longer than the 18 minutes in Idaho.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Gem County has a education index of D, which means it is barely educated.
| Metric | Gem County | Idaho Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.8% | 27.1% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.64 | 2.66 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
Idaho:
Latah County (0.4), Teton County (0.3), Ada County (0.3).
Lowest:
Clark County (0.1), Owyhee County (0.2), Lincoln County (0.2).
Health
Gem County has a health index of C, which means it is somewhat healthy.
| Metric | Gem County | Idaho Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 77.5 | 79.5 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 16.0% | 15.6% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 18.5% | 17.6% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
Idaho:
Madison County (0.8), Latah County (0.8), Ada County (0.8).
Lowest:
Shoshone County (0.8), Washington County (0.8), Lincoln County (0.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Gem County, Idaho.
What is the population of Gem County, Idaho?
The population of Gem County, Idaho is 20,197, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Gem County, Idaho?
The population density of Gem County, Idaho is 35.8 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Gem County, Idaho?
The median household income in Gem County, Idaho is $67,053, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Gem County, Idaho?
The median home price in Gem County, Idaho is $114,622, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Gem County, Idaho?
The unemployment rate in Gem County, Idaho is 2.8%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.