The Town Files

Gem County, Idaho

20,614 people. The median home is worth $428,700 (typical Idaho town: $291,900) and the median household earns $64,605.

Towns in Gem County

Towns in Gem County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Emmett7,647$342,000$58,75036.3

People and housing

Gem CountyTypical Idaho town
Median home value$428,700$291,900
Median rent$1,038$1,029
Median household income$64,605$66,924
Median age44.236.6
Bachelor's degree or higher20.7%21.7%
Below the poverty line12.0%11.4%

Jobs and pay

4,520 jobs in 2024, average pay $44,976 a year.

Largest industries in Gem CountyRetail567 jobs · $33,502Construction420 jobs · $51,795Hotels & restaurants407 jobs · $20,658Manufacturing387 jobs · $49,636Wholesale trade187 jobs · $62,119Professional & technical serv…147 jobs · $62,269
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Gem County0%2%4%6%8%10%12%2000200420082012201620202023 3.8%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 286 storm events in Gem County from 1996 to 2026, with 4 deaths.

Storm events in Gem County by type since 1996Hail4Flood12Tornado3Wildfire3Dense Fog7High Wind16Heavy Snow177Strong Wind7Winter Storm23Winter Weather8
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Gem County has been included in 7 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
August 19, 2022FireFM-5449: Four Corners Fire
April 9, 2020BiologicalDR-4534: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3467: Covid-19
July 27, 2010Severe StormDR-1927: Severe Storms And Flooding
September 13, 2005HurricaneEM-3244: Hurricane Katrina
January 4, 1997Severe StormDR-1154: Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud And Landslides
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).