CountyScore

Jerome County

Idaho · ID

#33 in Idaho
70.6
County Score

County Report Card

About Jerome County, Idaho

Above-Average Livability in Rural Idaho

Jerome County's composite score of 70.6 exceeds the national median of 50.0, placing it in the top 41% of U.S. counties. The county delivers solid livability fundamentals, though it lags slightly behind its Idaho peers overall.

Modest Performer Within State Ranks

At 70.6, Jerome County trails Idaho's state average of 72.5 by nearly 2 points, positioning it in the lower-middle segment of Idaho counties. The gap reflects moderate performance across most dimensions rather than critical weakness in any single area.

Affordable Housing and Moderate Taxes

Jerome County excels with a cost score of 76.5 and median home values of $254,000, offering solid housing affordability for the region. Its tax score of 84.3 and effective tax rate of 0.639% keep overall tax burdens reasonable for residents.

Health and Income Concerns Merit Attention

A health score of 60.4 trails most other Idaho counties, suggesting potential gaps in healthcare access or population wellness. The income score of 28.6 and median household income of $69,338 also lag state comparables, limiting wealth-building potential.

A Practical Choice for Cost-Focused Households

Jerome County works best for families prioritizing affordability and low taxes over healthcare excellence or high earning potential. It suits practical-minded residents willing to accept modest income levels in exchange for a lower cost-of-living footprint.

Score breakdown

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

Tax84.3Cost76.5SafetyComing SoonHealth60.4SchoolsComing SoonIncome28.6Risk78.6WaterComing Soon
🏛84.3
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠76.5
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼28.6
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤60.4
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡78.6
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare Jerome County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Fremont County
Colorado
70.6
Median income: $61,027
Chattahoochee County
Georgia
70.6
Median income: $59,221
Jones County
Georgia
70.6
Median income: $68,259
Jefferson County
Indiana
70.6
Median income: $59,987
Atchison County
Kansas
70.6
Median income: $62,164

Deep Dives

Jerome County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Jerome County

via TaxByCounty

Jerome County's taxes beat national median

Jerome County's effective rate of 0.639% yields a median property tax of $1,623—roughly 40% lower than the national median of $2,690. The county ranks in the lower-to-middle tier nationally for tax burden.

Above state average, but not by much

Jerome County's 0.639% rate exceeds Idaho's state average of 0.508%, making it one of the state's higher-taxed counties. The county ranks in the upper third among Idaho's 44 counties.

Higher effective rate than most peers

Jerome County's 0.639% rate tops nearby Kootenai County (0.471%), Lincoln County (0.479%), and Lemhi County (0.393%). Only Lewis County (0.666%) and Latah County (0.681%) exceed Jerome's effective rate in the region.

Median home costs $1,623 annually in taxes

On Jerome County's median home value of $254,000, homeowners owe approximately $1,623 per year in property taxes. That's roughly $135 monthly—reflecting the county's above-average but still reasonable rate.

Assessment errors are worth investigating

With Jerome County's higher-than-average effective rate, it's especially important to verify your assessment is accurate and competitive. An appeal could yield meaningful savings if your property is overvalued relative to comparable homes.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Jerome County

via CostByCounty

Jerome County leads in housing affordability

Jerome County's 14.9% rent-to-income ratio is among the nation's best, placing renters in a comfortable financial position despite a median income of $69,338 that's 7% below the national average. This county delivers genuine affordability without requiring above-average earnings.

Best affordability ratio in Idaho region

Jerome County ranks among the state's most affordable at 14.9% compared to Idaho's 16.8% average, with rents of $862 that align with the state median of $919. It represents an ideal middle ground: reasonable housing costs paired with access to job markets.

Sweet spot between rural and urban

Jerome's $862 rent falls between the bargain basements of Idaho County ($797) and the pricier markets of Kootenai ($1,330) and Jefferson ($1,098). At $69,338 income, Jerome households earn more than Latah and Lemhi counties while keeping rents manageable and well below state average.

Home ownership costs more than renting

Renters pay $862 monthly while homeowners spend $1,078 on their $254,000 median home value, creating a $216 monthly ownership premium. For the $69,338 median household income, this ratio remains affordable, but renters should understand that buying here carries a genuine cost bump.

Jerome County: affordable and practical

Jerome County offers the region's best rent-to-income ratio (14.9%) for households earning near $69,000, making it ideal for renters seeking stability without sacrifice. Compare this to Kootenai (20.7%) or Latah (16.7%) to see why Jerome works best for budget-conscious families and professionals.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Jerome County

via IncomeByCounty

Jerome County moderately below U.S. median

The median household income of $69,338 falls about 7% short of the national median of $74,755. Jerome County ranks in the middle range of U.S. counties, placing it near the 50th percentile for household earnings nationwide.

Slightly above Idaho's state average

At $69,338, Jerome County exceeds Idaho's median household income of $65,770 by roughly $3,600. The county ranks in the upper third of Idaho's 44 counties, reflecting solid economic fundamentals.

Outpaces most southern Idaho peers

Jerome County's $69,338 surpasses Lincoln ($66,038), Lemhi ($52,057), and Lewis ($49,643), though it trails Jefferson County's leading $82,952. The regional income variation reflects differences in agricultural productivity and diversification.

Affordable housing leaves room to save

Jerome County's rent-to-income ratio of 14.9% is the lowest among these eight counties, meaning households spend less than 15% of income on rent. The median home value of $254,000 is well-aligned with the county's median household earnings.

Low housing costs create savings opportunity

Because housing consumes just 14.9% of income, Jerome County households can redirect 10–12% toward investments, emergency funds, or retirement accounts. Take advantage of this favorable ratio by establishing automatic contributions to a 401(k), IRA, or brokerage account.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Jerome County

via HealthByCounty

Jerome County lags behind national health

At 76.4 years, Jerome County life expectancy trails the U.S. average of 76.4 years significantly. A concerning 22.1% report poor or fair health—the highest rate among Idaho counties surveyed—signaling systemic wellness challenges.

Idaho's lowest life expectancy

Jerome County's 76.4-year life expectancy is 1.1 years below Idaho's 77.5 average and the lowest among these eight counties. Its 16.1% uninsured rate is 4.4 percentage points above the state average, creating dual barriers to health.

Struggling compared to peers

Jerome County's 76.4-year life expectancy lags Jefferson (77.4) and Lincoln (77.5) by a full year. Its 16.1% uninsured rate nearly doubles that of neighboring Jefferson (9.2%), marking Jerome as a regional health equity challenge.

High uninsured rate, limited providers

With only 28 primary care and 31 mental health providers per 100,000 residents, Jerome County has tight healthcare access. Combined with a 16.1% uninsured rate—the state's worst—many residents lack both insurance and nearby providers.

Jerome County needs action on coverage

At 16.1% uninsured, Jerome County faces a coverage crisis. Reach out to your county health department or call 1-800-MEDICARE to explore Medicaid expansion, tax credits, and community health center options immediately.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Jerome County

via RiskByCounty

Jerome County ranks among the nation's safest

Jerome County's composite score of 21.47 and "Very Low" rating place it well below the national average for natural disaster risk. This county offers significantly lower exposure to most catastrophic hazards.

Jerome County is Idaho's safest county

At just 21.47, Jerome County dramatically outperforms the state average of 38.51—roughly half the statewide risk level. The county consistently ranks as one of Idaho's lowest-risk areas.

Jerome County leads its peer group by far

Jerome County's 21.47 beats Lincoln County (9.06) and Lewis County (3.09) in composite risk, though those two are actually even safer. Jerome sits in Idaho's lowest-risk tier compared to its regional neighbors.

Wildfire is the only elevated hazard here

Wildfire risk reaches 90.24, but flood (31.14), earthquake (58.72), and especially tornado (8.97) all remain well-controlled. Residents should prepare primarily for wildfire, though overall risk remains very manageable.

Wildfire coverage is your key priority

Even in this low-risk county, wildfire exposure at 90.24 warrants confirmed coverage in your homeowners policy. Review your policy's wildfire exclusions and consider additional protection if living in a fire-prone area.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

🏛Property Tax🏠Cost of Living💼Income & Jobs🛡Safety❤Health🎓Schools⚡Disaster Risk💧Water Quality

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