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Jerome County, ID

The Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Jerome County, ID is $1,186 per month, ranking #399 out of 693 areas nationwide. The area median household income is $69,338, meaning a household spending Fair Market Rent on a 2-bedroom would pay 20.5% of income on housing. Rent in Jerome County has increased 15.4% year over year. The area has a population of 25K, with 24.5% of households renting.

20.5%
Moderately Affordable
of income → rent
$1,186
2BR Fair Market Rent
vs $1,250 national median
$69,338
Median Income
vs $71,049 national
$862
Actual Median Rent
Census ACS estimate
+15.4%
Year-over-Year
2BR FMR change
25K
Population
Census ACS
24.5%
Renters
of occupied housing
$254,000
Median Home Value
3.3%
Unemployment
BLS LAUS
6%
Vacancy Rate
of housing units
13.9%
Poverty Rate
below poverty line

Fair Market Rent by Bedroom Size

$819
Studio
$986
1 Bedroom
$1,186
2 Bedroom
$1,599
3 Bedroom
$1,990
4 Bedroom

Fair Market Rents (FMRs) are set annually by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and represent the 40th percentile of gross rents for standard-quality units in an area. FMRs are used to determine payment standards for the Housing Choice Voucher program and other federal housing assistance.

Housing Affordability

In Jerome County, ID, a household earning the area median income of $69,338 would spend 20.5% of their gross income on a 2-bedroom at Fair Market Rent. This falls below HUD's 30% cost-burden threshold, meaning housing is relatively affordable for median-income households in this area.

Income Needed for 2BR
$47,440
annual (30% threshold)
Hourly Wage Needed
$23
full-time (2,080 hrs/yr)
Actual Median Rent
$862
$324 below FMR

5-Year Rent Trend

+37.9% since 2021
$8602021$9242022$9962023$1,0282024$1,1272025$1,1862026

2-bedroom Fair Market Rent by fiscal year. Source: HUD FMR API.

Minimum Wage Affordability

The minimum wage in Idaho is $7.25/hr. A minimum-wage worker would need to work 125.8 hours per week to afford a 2-bedroom at Fair Market Rent without exceeding 30% of income on housing. This means a single minimum-wage earner cannot afford a 2-bedroom working a standard 40-hour week. The poverty rate in Jerome County is 13.9%, near the national average of approximately 12.4%.

State Min Wage
$7.25/hr
Hours/Week Needed
125.8 hrs
Poverty Rate
13.9%

Housing Market Context

The median home value in Jerome County is $254,000. At a median income of $69,338, this represents a price-to-income ratio of 3.7x. 6% of housing units in the area are vacant, which is below the national average and suggests a tight housing market. The local unemployment rate is 3.3%, below the national average, indicating a relatively strong local labor market.

Rent vs. Buy
$1,778 est. mortgage
vs $1,186 FMR rent
Vacancy Rate
6%
of housing units
Unemployment
3.3%
BLS, latest available

Other Areas in Idaho

Boise City
$1,655/mo
2BR FMR · 24% burden
Coeur d'Alene
$1,547/mo
2BR FMR · 24.1% burden
Idaho Falls
$1,305/mo
2BR FMR · 20.3% burden
Butte County
$1,304/mo
2BR FMR · 36.2% burden
Twin Falls County
$1,284/mo
2BR FMR · 23.6% burden

Compare Jerome County

vs Boise City, IDvs Coeur d'Alene, IDvs Idaho Falls, ID

Areas With Similar Rent to Jerome County

Frequently Asked Questions

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Jerome County, ID is $1,186 per month. A studio is $819/mo, a 1-bedroom is $986/mo, and a 3-bedroom is $1,599/mo. The actual median gross rent from Census data is $862/mo.

Jerome County has a rent burden of 20.5%, meaning a household earning the median income of $69,338 would spend 20.5% of income on a 2-bedroom at Fair Market Rent. This is below HUD's 30% cost-burden threshold, indicating relatively affordable housing. To afford a 2-bedroom without being cost-burdened, a household would need an annual income of at least $47,440.

Jerome County's 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,186/mo is $64 below the national median of $1,250/mo. Jerome County ranks #399 out of 693 areas for highest rent in the United States.

To afford a 2-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Jerome County without spending more than 30% of income on housing, you would need an annual household income of at least $47,440, or a full-time hourly wage of $23/hour. The area median income is $69,338.

The 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Jerome County increased by 15.4% compared to the prior year. This is a significant increase, suggesting growing demand in the local housing market.

Fair Market Rents represent the 40th percentile of gross rents for standard-quality rental units. Rent burden is calculated as annual 2BR FMR divided by area median household income. Census data (income, home value, population, vacancy) is from the ACS 5-Year estimates. Unemployment rates are from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics.