The Town FilesParma, Idaho
City in Canyon County · population 2,096 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $274,300
- Household income
- $49,231
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 12 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 35.9
Parma is a city of 2,096 people in Canyon County, Idaho. The median home is worth $274,300, below the typical Idaho town ($291,900). It ranks easier by car than 90% of Idaho towns.
How Parma ranks
Percentile among Idaho towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Idaho towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Parma is worth $274,300, below the typical Idaho town ($291,900). Homes cost about 5.6 times the median household income of $49,231, which is more affordable than 21% of Idaho towns. Median rent is $980 a month. 65.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Parma | Typical Idaho town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $274,300 | $291,900 |
| Median rent | $980 | $1,029 |
| Median household income | $49,231 | $66,924 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.6× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 65.6% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Parma
| People | Parma | Typical Idaho town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.9 | 36.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.5% | 16.5% |
| Under 18 | 28.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.3% | 21.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.3% | 11.4% |
| Veterans | 6.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 12.7% | — |
| Work from home | 2.3% | 8.4% |
| Average commute | 20.6 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.5% | 91.2% |
Weather in Parma
July highs average 92.4°F and January lows 22.7°F. About 10.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 11.5 inches of snow (typical Idaho town: 38.8 in). Expect about 57 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 144 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Parma since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Idaho town. The strongest, an F1, struck on May 17, 1996 about 0.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 17, 1996.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 4 times; the largest was 1.50 inches on August 11, 2022.
Severe weather in Canyon County since 1996
Canyon County has been included in 4 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 9, 2020 | Biological | DR-4534: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3467: Covid-19 |
| October 7, 2017 | Flood | DR-4342: Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3244: Hurricane Katrina |
Jobs and pay in Canyon County
Canyon County had 88,684 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,903 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Parma itself the ACS puts it at 3.6%.
Public schools in Parma
3 public schools with 1,007 students, about 17.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| MAXINE JOHNSON ELEMENTARY | PK-4 | 374 | 17.8 |
| PARMA HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 330 | 18.3 |
| PARMA MIDDLE SCHOOL | 5-8 | 303 | 16.8 |
Towns near Parma
- Nyssa, OR6.9 mi · 3,198 people · home $204,300
- Wilder, ID7.7 mi · 1,597 people · home $270,900
- Notus, ID9.2 mi · 609 people · home $287,000
- Greenleaf, ID9.9 mi · 812 people · home $363,700
- Homedale, ID11.8 mi · 2,881 people · home $238,000
- New Plymouth, ID14.1 mi · 1,494 people · home $277,500
- Fruitland, ID16.0 mi · 6,072 people · home $329,600
- Ontario, OR16.6 mi · 11,645 people · home $236,300
Parma questions
Is Parma, Idaho a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Parma scores better for retirees than 24% of Idaho towns and quieter than 28%. 19.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.9).
How much does a house cost in Parma?
The median owner-occupied home in Parma is valued at $274,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,231, so homes cost about 5.6 times income. Median rent is $980 a month.
What is the weather like in Parma?
July highs average 92.4°F and January lows 22.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 10.0 inches of precipitation a year and 11.5 inches of snow.
Does Parma get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Parma since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on May 17, 1996. The typical Idaho town has had 2.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)