Canyon County

Idaho · ID

#44 in Idaho
65.8
County Score

County Report Card

About Canyon County, Idaho

Canyon County exceeds national livability median

Canyon County's composite score of 65.8 ranks in the 66th percentile nationally, surpassing the national median of 50.0. While solid, the county lags some peer regions in this Idaho cohort.

Noticeably below Idaho's statewide performance

Canyon County scores 65.8 against Idaho's state average of 72.5, placing it among the lower-performing counties in the state. This score suggests some livability headwinds compared to more rural Idaho peers.

Highest incomes in this county group

Canyon County leads the group with a median household income of $72,355 and an income score of 30.6, reflecting stronger earning potential. A tax score of 86.2 and effective tax rate of 0.570% also provide solid fiscal advantage.

Rising housing costs erode affordability

The county's cost score of 66.8—among the lowest in the group—reflects housing pressure, with median home values of $350,300 and rents averaging $1,259 monthly. Health outcomes (68.3) also rank in the lower half of this cohort, suggesting healthcare access challenges.

Best for wage earners tolerating higher costs

Canyon County suits young professionals and dual-income families prioritizing higher wages over affordability, willing to trade moderate housing costs for stronger earning potential. The county's economic vitality appeals to those building careers, though livability challenges suggest it's less ideal for fixed-income households.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax86.2Cost66.8SafetyComing SoonHealth68.3SchoolsComing SoonIncome30.6Risk28.3WaterComing Soon
🏛86.2
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty
🏠66.8
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty
💼30.6
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
68.3
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
28.3
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Deep Dives

Canyon County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Canyon County

via TaxByCounty

Canyon taxes remain below national median

Canyon County's 0.570% effective tax rate runs above the national average, yet its median property tax of $1,996 still falls 26% short of the national median of $2,690. This moderate position places Canyon around the 40th percentile nationally—better than average, but not the state's lowest.

Canyon ranks above Idaho average

At 0.570%, Canyon County exceeds Idaho's 0.508% state average, placing it in the higher-tax portion of Idaho's 44 counties. The higher effective rate reflects Canyon's rapid growth and urban development patterns compared to more rural Idaho counties.

Canyon highest-taxed in region cluster

Canyon's 0.570% rate significantly exceeds neighboring Owyhee and Ada counties' regional patterns, making it the priciest option in southwestern Idaho. A Canyon homeowner pays roughly $355 more annually than a Camas County resident on a similar-value property.

Canyon median tax: $1,996 yearly

The typical Canyon County home valued at $350,300 incurs annual property taxes of $1,996—the highest among our eight surveyed counties. With or without mortgage assessments, Canyon homeowners pay roughly $1,994 to $2,005 annually.

Challenge assessments in growing areas

Rapidly developing counties like Canyon sometimes overshoot property valuations during boom cycles, inflating tax bills. If your assessment has spiked recently, gather comparable sales data and file an appeal—many assessors will adjust when presented with solid market evidence.

Cost of Living in Canyon County

via CostByCounty

Canyon County's affordability crunch deepens

Canyon County renters spend 20.9% of income on housing—significantly above the national 15-18% comfort zone—despite median income of $72,355 tracking closely to the national median. The county's rapid growth has inflated rents faster than wage gains.

Idaho's second-costliest rental burden

At 20.9%, Canyon's rent-to-income ratio ranks second-worst in Idaho, trailing only Camas's 21.4% and topping the state average by 4.1 percentage points. Median rent of $1,259 is the state's highest, driven by the Nampa-Caldwell region's rapid urbanization.

Boise's suburbs command premium prices

Canyon's $1,259 rent dramatically outpaces neighboring Owyhee and Payette counties, positioning it as the Treasure Valley's most expensive rental market. This premium reflects proximity to Idaho's largest metro and relocation pressure from out-of-state arrivals.

Suburban growth strains paychecks

Canyon households earn $72,355 but surrender $1,259 monthly rent or $1,219 ownership—consuming over 20% of income before taxes. The tight squeeze reflects the Nampa-Caldwell area's status as Idaho's fastest-growing region, where housing demand outpaces supply and wage growth.

Rethink Canyon unless you earn premium wages

Canyon's 20.9% rent-to-income ratio makes it risky for average earners—compare to Bonneville (16.5%) or Boundary (16.7%) for genuine affordability gains. If your job requires the Nampa-Caldwell area, plan to earn well above median or buy rather than rent to escape the monthly squeeze.

Income & Jobs in Canyon County

via IncomeByCounty

Canyon nearly matches national income

Canyon County's median household income of $72,355 sits close to the national median of $74,755, falling short by less than 3.3%. This solid performance reflects a diversified regional economy with stable employment across multiple sectors.

Outearns Idaho's county average

Canyon's $72,355 household income exceeds Idaho's state average of $65,770 by approximately $6,585, ranking the county in the upper half of Idaho's 44 counties. However, per capita income of $30,761 slightly underperforms the state average of $32,503, suggesting more multi-earner households.

Strong performer among peers

Canyon's $72,355 household income exceeds nearby Cassia County ($67,042) by $5,313 and substantially outpaces Camas County ($55,536) by $16,819. The county ranks solidly within its regional group, benefiting from proximity to Boise's economic influence.

Housing costs require budget discipline

Canyon's rent-to-income ratio of 20.9% indicates renters spend just over one-fifth of income on housing, staying below the 30% affordability threshold. With a median home value of $350,300, homeownership remains feasible for households earning near or above the county median.

Build on regional economic strength

Canyon residents benefit from near-national-average income and should leverage this position to invest in long-term wealth. Exploring home equity, retirement accounts, and diversified investments allows households to capitalize on the county's stable economic foundation and growing employment sectors.

Health in Canyon County

via HealthByCounty

Canyon matches US life expectancy

Canyon County residents live to 77.5 years, slightly below the US average of 78.9 years but still respectable. The county's 18.6% poor or fair health rate sits above national norms, indicating residents report more health challenges than average American communities.

Life expectancy exactly at state average

At 77.5 years, Canyon County's life expectancy matches Idaho's state average precisely, placing it in the middle tier of the eight counties profiled. The county shows no advantage or disadvantage relative to statewide longevity patterns.

Struggling with provider and uninsured rates

Canyon's 77.5-year life expectancy trails Bonner (78.8) and Boundary (78.1) counties but matches state baseline. However, its 11.9% uninsured rate exceeds state average, and primary care density of 31 per 100,000 is the lowest in the eight-county group.

Lowest primary care density in region

Canyon County's primary care provider rate of 31 per 100,000 is dramatically below regional peers like Cassia County (87) and Boundary County (56). Mental health care at 189 per 100,000 offers moderate support, but the primary care shortage creates barriers for preventive and routine healthcare.

Bridge the access gap with insurance

Nearly 12% of Canyon County residents lack health insurance, compounding the primary care shortage that affects the entire county. Visit healthcare.gov today to secure coverage and gain access to the providers who are available.

Disaster Risk in Canyon County

via RiskByCounty

Canyon faces relatively low national risk

Canyon County scores 71.72, placing it in the relatively low risk category despite some elevated wildfire exposure. The score reflects balanced threats across multiple hazard types.

Above-average risk for Idaho

At 71.72, Canyon's composite risk nearly doubles Idaho's state average of 38.51, making it one of the state's higher-exposure counties. Only a handful of Idaho counties exceed Canyon's hazard profile.

Riskier than much of southwestern Idaho

Canyon's 71.72 score exceeds Owyhee and Gem counties' typical profiles, reflecting its location along major flood corridors and wildfire zones. Adjacency to Bonneville (82.41) puts Canyon in a notably active hazard region.

Wildfires, earthquakes, and floods threaten Canyon

Wildfire risk scores an elevated 92.49, while earthquake exposure reaches 78.85 and flood risk is 80.31—making this a triple-threat county. Tornado risk of 20.77 is moderate compared to other Idaho counties.

Bundle flood, wildfire, and earthquake coverage

Canyon County's 92.49 wildfire score, 80.31 flood score, and 78.85 earthquake score demand comprehensive protection beyond standard homeowners insurance. Secure separate policies for all three hazards to ensure full household protection.

ByCounty Network

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.