Ada
Idaho

What stands out

Three things set Ada County apart from the other 3,142 counties: high-school completion is in the top 5% of American counties (95%), rainfall is in the bottom 5% of American counties (14 inches a year), and the median home price is in the top 6% of American counties ($530K). Within Idaho it ranks 4th of 44 counties for high-school completion.

Where you are

You live in Ada County, Idaho. 497,494 people live here with you. The population grew 1.1% last year, and more Americans moved in than out (net +2,916).

Idaho has a flat 5.3% income tax and grew faster than almost any state between 2015 and 2023, driven by arrivals from California and Washington to the Boise area. Home prices in Ada County more than doubled in that stretch. The state offers a property-tax reduction for lower-income seniors and taxes Social Security for nobody.

Money

The typical household here brings in $83,881 a year, higher than 91% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $70,588. Unemployment runs 2.3%, lower than 89% of American counties. 15% of workers work from home.

Idaho takes 5.0% of that median income in state income tax, about $4,191 a year.

Home

The median home costs $530K, pricier than 94% of American counties, about 4.2 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $1,237 a month. Property tax is 0.59% of home value, roughly $2,504 a year on that median home, lower than 78% of American counties. 71% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 3.0 per 1,000 residents, lower than 92% of American counties. Drug overdoses killed 15 people per 100,000 in 2024.

A child born here can expect to live 80.0 years, longer than 91% of American counties. There are 1,853 active physicians in the county, about 37.2 per 10,000 people. Medicare rates the local hospitals 4.3 of 5 stars. 8.1% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

Local students test at grade level 3.24 where 3.0 is national grade level, higher than 77% of American counties. 95% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

In 2024 your neighbors voted Republican by 4 points. 75% of eligible voters turned out. Under Idaho law you can carry a concealed handgun without a permit, abortion is banned with narrow exceptions, and marijuana is illegal.

Weather and risk

The year averages 54°F, highs near 66 and lows near 42, colder than 57% of American counties. About 14 inches of rain and snow fall a year. FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 88 out of 100, riskier than 88% of American counties; the county has had 6 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 243 Mbps down, faster than 71% of American counties. There are 6 airports in the county, counting general aviation. For a night or a weekend out: 0.7 full-service restaurants per 1,000 people, 22 breweries, 11 museums.