Idaho Median Age Rises to 37.9 Years

Census data show Idaho's population is aging while remaining one of the nation's younger states.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Child Care

Live Poll

Is your household's income keeping up with local living costs?

The U.S. Census Bureau's 2025 American Community Survey one-year estimates show Idaho's median age rose by 0.1 year to 37.9, making it the seventh-youngest state. Idaho's median household income also rose 1.2% to $84,234 in 2025.

Why it matters

The figures offer a statewide snapshot of household composition, earnings and housing costs that shape family planning and local services. Shifts in age structure and child-related household patterns bear directly on demand for schools and child care in Idaho.

Idaho's child dependency ratio was 40 in 2025, compared with 35 nationally, and about 28% of Idaho homeowners with a mortgage were cost-burdened versus 30% nationally. The estimates cover statewide data plus six metropolitan areas and six of the state's nine urban counties.

The players

U.S. Census Bureau

The U.S. Census Bureau is the federal agency responsible for conducting the decennial census and the American Community Survey.

The details

Idaho's median housing value was $458,000 in inflation-adjusted terms, while roughly 45% of renters were cost-burdened in 2025. More than 43% of Idaho households included someone over 60, and Utah had the lowest median age in the nation at 32.6 years.

2015: Share of Idaho households with members over 60 was 38%.
2024: Idaho's share of cost-burdened renters was 48%.
2025: Idaho median household income rose 1.2% to $84,234.

Season Trajectory

The 2025 American Community Survey one-year estimates extend the Census Bureau's annual series, which tracks state-level aging and household trends year over year. Idaho's rising median age continues a gradual shift in its population structure documented across recent survey releases.

With 31% of Idaho households including someone under 18 and 59% of children under 6 having both parents in the workforce, many families face ongoing child care planning needs. Rising household income of $84,234 and median housing costs of $458,000 shape what families can afford in the state.

The takeaway

Idaho's household composition, incomes and housing costs are changing together, and families weighing child care choices should watch these trends. The survey data offer a baseline for comparing future local conditions.