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Gem County, ID
2 cities and towns and 4 ZIP codes in Gem County, Idaho.
Population
20,614
Land area
560sq mi
People per sq mi
37
ZIP codes
4
Cities and towns in Gem County
Gem County at a glance
- Gem County is 57% denser than Idaho as a whole.
- The median household income is $64,605, 17% below the Idaho median of $77,800.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $428,700 and median rent is $1,038 a month.
- Its largest cities are Emmett (8,275) and Letha (109).
Local data for Gem County, ID
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Gem County, ID, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$64,605
Poverty rate
12.0%
Median home value
$428,700
Prices +2.8% in a year
Median rent
$1,038/mo
Homeownership
76.0%
Bachelor's or higher
20.7%
Median age
44.2
Average commute
30.3 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (3,803), Irish Americans (1,754), Mexican Americans (1,582).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
3.2%
Aug 2026, -0.2 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$46,323
4,595 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$49,972
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$153M
FY 2026, $8,007 per person
PPP loans
$16.99M
356 loans, 2,375 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$33.94K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Gem County, ID, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone74.9%
- Carpooled8.8%
- Public transit0.3%
- Walked1.6%
- Bicycle1.1%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.8%
- Worked from home11.5%
Average one-way commute: 30.3 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Gem County, ID, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Very Low
Top: wildfire
Storm events since 1996
286
Most often heavy snow
Flood insurance policies
29
0.3% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
93° / 15°F
22.5 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone10 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Gem County, ID, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
32.9%
U.S. 33.3% about the same
Diabetes
11.5%
U.S. 12.1% -0.6 pts
Smoking
12.9%
U.S. 12.8% about the same
Uninsured (18-64)
10.6%
U.S. 11.1% -0.5 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Gem County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Gem County, ID?
- Emmett is the largest city or town in Gem County, with about 8,275 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Gem County?
- Gem County includes 4 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 83617, 83636, 83657, 83670.
- What is the population of Gem County, ID?
- About 20,614 people live in Gem County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Gem County?
- Gem County borders Ada County, Canyon County, Payette County, Valley County, Washington County, Boise County, Adams County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023