Boise City, ID Metro Area

Boise City, ID · Metro Area

811,115Population

A metropolitan statistical area of 5 counties (1 central, 4 outlying), part of the Boise City-Mountain Home-Ontario, ID-OR combined area. The counties are tied together by commuting: people live in one and work in another.

Median household income: $85,987
Median home value: $468,900
Land area: 11,766 sq mi

Market now

Counties in this metro area

Central counties hold the urban core; outlying counties are linked to it by commuting.

County	Role	Population	Median income	Median home value
Ada County, ID	Central	518,935	$91,502	$512,300
Canyon County, ID	Outlying	250,790	$76,488	$390,000
Gem County, ID	Outlying	20,614	$64,605	$428,700
Owyhee County, ID	Outlying	12,503	$64,406	$359,800
Boise County, ID	Outlying	8,273	$78,774	$476,100

Largest cities and towns

28 places in our city pages lie in this area; the 25 largest are shown.

Place	Type	Population	Median income
Boise City, ID	City	237,242	$83,904
Meridian, ID	City	130,138	$100,795
Nampa, ID	City	110,319	$74,279
Caldwell, ID	City	66,516	$73,058
Eagle, ID	City	32,855	$122,894
Kuna, ID	City	27,158	$96,219
Star, ID	City	14,745	$97,936
Garden City, ID	City	12,654	$70,124
Middleton, ID	City	10,649	$89,013
Emmett, ID	City	8,275	$58,750
Hidden Springs, ID	CDP	3,378	$163,203
Homedale, ID	City	3,069	$62,117
Wilder, ID	City	2,074	$55,117
Parma, ID	City	1,928	$49,231
Greenleaf, ID	City	1,482	$69,141
Marsing, ID	City	1,306	$70,202
Robie Creek, ID	CDP	1,213	$106,250
Horseshoe Bend, ID	City	758	$65,500
Melba, ID	City	617	$45,750
Idaho City, ID	City	581	$44,722
Notus, ID	City	573	$64,813
Grand View, ID	City	472	$58,092
Garden Valley, ID	CDP	438	$94,583
Crouch, ID	City	214	$78,226
Murphy, ID	CDP	170	$76,116

Also in the Boise City-Mountain Home-Ontario, ID-OR combined area

Ontario, OR-ID · micro · 58,725 Mountain Home, ID · micro · 29,321

Demographic Rates

Poverty Rate

9.2%

Unemployment

3.3%

College Educated

37.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table S1701, S2301, S1501

Race & Ethnicity

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table B02001, B03003

Income Profile

Median Household Income

$85,987

Mean Household Income

$113,865

Income Distribution

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table S1901, S1902, S1903, B19013, B19113

Sex Distribution

Male

50.3%

Female

49.7%

Population Split

Male50.3%

Female49.7%

The sex distribution of a population provides insight into the demographic balance of a community. Significant skews in this ratio can be influenced by local industries (e.g., military bases, mining, or tech hubs), educational institutions, or migration patterns. Understanding this balance is essential for planning public health initiatives and social services.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table S0101

Ancestry

English18.4%

German17.1%

Mexican11.9%

Irish10.3%

Italian3.5%

Scottish3.1%

French2.3%

Polish1.5%

African0.5%

Reported ancestry groups representing the cultural heritage of the population. Percentages may not sum to 100% as residents may report multiple ancestries or none.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table B04006

Immigration & Nativity

Nativity Status

7.0%Foreign Born

93.0%Native Born

Citizenship Status

Naturalized48.9%

Non-Citizen51.1%

Period of Entry

2010 or Later32.0%

Before 201068.0%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table B05001, B05002

Housing Characteristics

Total Housing Units

319,087

Median Rent

$1,487/mo

Median Home Value

$468,900

Median Year Built

1997

Housing Tenure

Housing Types

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table DP04

Education Enrollment

Total Enrolled

199,567

College Enrollment

18.6%

High School

23.1%

College Educated

37.1%

K-12 Enrollment

Higher Education

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table S1401, S1501

Transportation & Commute

Mean Commute Time

22.9 min

Drive Alone Rate

70.7%

Public Transit

0.3%

Work From Home

16.6%

Commute Mode

Vehicle Ownership

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table S0801, B08141

Age Distribution

Under 18

23.4%

18-34 Years

22.7%

35-64 Years

37.8%

65+ Years

16.1%

Population Composition

Under 1823.4%

18-3422.7%

35-6437.8%

65+16.1%

The age distribution of a community impacts local services, school requirements, and the labor market. A higher percentage of youth suggests a need for schools and family services, while a larger senior population may indicate a retirement destination or a need for healthcare services.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table S0101

Household Composition

Married Couples

54.6%

Single Parent

5.0%

Living Alone

23.5%

Avg Size

2.61

Household Types

Married Couples54.6%

Single Parent5.0%

Living Alone23.5%

Household composition offers insights into the social fabric of a community. A high percentage of married couples often correlates with stability and higher household incomes, while a significant number of single-person households may indicate a younger transient population or an aging community.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table S1101

Economic Profile

Per Capita Income

$43,624

SNAP Usage

6.3%

Health Insurance

91.4%

Household Income Breakdown

Under $25k10.4%

$25k - $50k14.9%

$50k - $100k32.7%

$100k+41.9%

Key Industries

Manufacturing

9.1%

Retail Trade

11.4%

Education & Health Care

21.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table S1901, S2201, DP03

Health & Disability

Disability Rate

13.0%With Disability

Percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population with a disability.

Health Insurance Coverage

91.4%With Coverage

Percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population with health insurance coverage.

Why this matters: High disability rates may indicate a need for accessible infrastructure and specialized healthcare services. Health insurance coverage is a key indicator of a community's access to preventative care and financial resilience against medical emergencies.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table S1810, S2701

Technology Access

Broadband Internet

94.1%vs ~90% National Avg

Computer Ownership

97.4%vs ~95% National Avg

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table S2801

Cost of Living & Housing

Cost of Living Scale

Lower is better

98.4

0130

Below average< 97

Near average97 - 103

Above average> 103

Prices compared with the US average (100). 105 means about 5% more expensive than average.

Housing Affordability

Higher is better

87.0

0200

Hard to Afford< 80

Moderate80 - 100

Affordable> 100

100 means a family earning the median family income just qualifies to buy the median-value home (20% down, 30-year loan at 6.72%).

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities · NAR affordability formula with Census ACS 2020–2024 incomes and home values and the Freddie Mac 30-year rate (2024)

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