Cost of Living in Ada County, Idaho
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Ada County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Ada County ranks #2,885 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 8%)
Sourced county brief
Ada County Median Gross Rent Reaches $1,577 Monthly
The median gross rent in Ada County was estimated at $1,577 per month, according to the ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates. This figure is $609 above the Idaho unweighted county mean of $968. For households in owner-occupied units, the median monthly owner cost was $1,442, which is above the state unweighted county mean of $968. The median value for owner-occupied homes was recorded at $512,300, compared to the unweighted county mean of $355,261. Among renter households, the median income was $63,067. The canonical rentToIncomePct is 29.6%, which is based on the official ACS B25071 median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI). This percentage is 2.7 percentage points higher than the Idaho unweighted county mean GRAPI of 26.9%. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Ada County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 29.6% of renter household income in Ada County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,577 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,442. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $63,080 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Idaho unweighted mean of county median rents is $968 per month. Ada County's $1,577 median is 62.9% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Ada County
Rent Burden
20.7%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$2,135
per month
Owner Cost Burden
18.9%
of gross income
The median home in Ada County may be a stretch
Median home value is $512,300. Estimated monthly cost: $4,090 vs. your max of $2,135.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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