by Kristen Carney
Updated: June 20, 2024
The richest city in Idaho is Hidden Springs in Ada County with an average household income of $200,967 as of 2022. While exceptionally affluent, Hidden Springs only has a population of 3,584 as of 2023. The richest city in Idaho with at least 5,000 people is Eagle in Ada County with an average household income of $159,730 as of 2022 and 32,319 people as of 2023 according to the most current Census data available (citation).
Rank | City | County | Population | Average Income | Median Income |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Hidden Springs | Ada | 3,584 | $200,967 | $152,328 |
2 | Rockford Bay | Kootenai | 306 | $194,625 | $123,750 |
3 | Swan Valley | Bonneville | 303 | $178,781 | $85,000 |
4 | Letha | Gem | 572 | $162,941 | -$1 |
5 | Eagle | Ada | 32,319 | $159,730 | $114,271 |
6 | Sun Valley | Blaine | 1,771 | $158,944 | $67,386 |
7 | Hayden Lake | Kootenai | 669 | $154,153 | $111,094 |
8 | Fernan Lake Village | Kootenai | 162 | $136,234 | $117,500 |
9 | Parkline | Benewah | 45 | $135,858 | -$1 |
10 | Riverside | Bingham | 1,074 | $130,092 | $94,583 |
11 | Dover | Bonner | 1,091 | $121,607 | $90,875 |
12 | Meridian | Ada | 134,801 | $120,303 | $93,296 |
13 | Onaway | Latah | 213 | $114,572 | $74,000 |
14 | East Hope | Bonner | 245 | $113,800 | $71,500 |
15 | Star | Ada; Canyon | 16,333 | $112,302 | $88,625 |
16 | Robie Creek | Boise | 1,237 | $112,092 | $117,422 |
17 | Avimor | Ada | 1,314 | $111,640 | $106,447 |
18 | Ketchum | Blaine | 3,611 | $109,791 | $87,478 |
19 | Newdale | Fremont | 332 | $109,536 | $82,500 |
20 | Driggs | Teton | 2,263 | $105,960 | $86,587 |
We usually suggest using median income data – either instead of or in addition to – average income data as a true indicator of wealth. If you haven’t thought about median versus average since your last standardized test, you aren’t alone. Here’s what they are:
Now let’s say you had the following simplified set of income data.
Household 1: $30,000
Household 2: $50,000
Household 3: $1,000,000
The average income for this set is $360,000. The outlier data point ($1,000,000) skews the average WAY up. Conversely, the average income would be skewed WAY down if someone had an income of $500. The median income for the same data set is $50,000. Outlier data doesn’t skew the median.
So most business owners should use the median income as a true indicator of wealth, because it provides a more accurate representation of a typical income, especially in areas with significant income disparity.
If your target market is high-income households, the average income may be more relevant. This is because the average income can highlight the presence of a higher concentration of wealthy individuals, which is beneficial for luxury goods and services marketing. We’re using average income on this page because using the Census’s highest reported median value of $250,001 could result in multiple ties for the richest geography.
The Census' American Community Survey uses $250,000+ as a jam value for median income estimates to protect privacy, ensure data consistency, and simplify reporting. A "jam value" in survey data refers to a placeholder or default value used when actual data points are unavailable, incomplete, or exceed certain thresholds. We represent this jam value as $250,001 to make it easy for you to sort.
Join thousands of subscribers and receive just 1 (ONE!) email a year in December when the US Census Bureau releases new income data for Idaho richest cities.
United States Census Bureau. Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023. U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division. Web. May 2024. http://www.census.gov/.
United States Census Bureau. B01001 SEX BY AGE, 2022 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey Office. Web. 7 December 2023. http://www.census.gov/.
United States Census Bureau. B19013 Median Household Income, 2022 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey Office. Web. 7 December 2023. http://www.census.gov/.
United States Census Bureau. “DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS.” 2022 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey Office. Web. 07 December 2023. http://www.census.gov/.
© Copyright 2024 Cubit Planning, Inc.