City profile · Idaho · Census ACS 2023

Garden City, ID

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Garden City - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

12,483
Residents
$66,859
Median income
$411,400
Median home
$1,655
Median rent (state)

Garden City - the verdict

Nationally, Garden City sits in the 46th percentile for household income and the 30th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

46th
percentile, household income
78th
percentile, home value
65th
percentile, median rent
30th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Garden City, ID

Garden City is a small town in Idaho, home to 12,483 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Garden City brings in $66,859 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 5.9%. Typical homes in Garden City are valued around $411,400, and the median resident age is 44.0 years. About 38.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 55.1% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 89 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Building Boom), up 134% from five years earlier. Crime here tracks close to the national norm: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 2091.7 incidents per 100,000 residents, near the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Living costs in Idaho run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Idaho at 95.5 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Below Average). Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,655 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Idaho run around $170, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Workers in Garden City report an average commute of 17.2 minutes, with 68.5% driving alone and 18.4% working from home. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 87.8 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

12,483 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Idaho

Median Household Income

$66,859 /yr

Poverty 5.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

95.5 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Idaho average

How does Garden City compare to other US cities?

Garden City measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 46% higher than other cities
Home value 78% pricier than other cities
Median rent 65% pricier than other cities
Safety 30% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Idaho, Garden City ranks #52 of 53 Idaho cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Garden City against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Idaho only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Idaho-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Garden City toward the top of Idaho's cities

Among the 215 Idaho cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Garden City ranks #1 - the 89th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Garden City only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#87 of 206
58th percentile in Idaho
Median Gross Rent
#1 of 215
89th percentile in Idaho
Median Home Value
#28 of 204
86th percentile in Idaho
Poverty Rate
#136 of 215
37th percentile in Idaho
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#28 of 215
87th percentile in Idaho

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Idaho only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

46thIncome percentile
30thSafety percentile

46th percentile nationally for median household income · 30th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Garden City's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Garden City's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 35 Avg. percentile National median
Garden City's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Garden City's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$411,400 22nd percentile more affordable than 22% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). This entry sits in this band. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Garden City $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Garden City, ID Garden City, ID's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Garden City, ID-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Garden City, ID median $66,859/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Garden City, ID's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Garden City, ID. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 38.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 5.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 55.1%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
12,483
Median Income
$66,859
Median Home Value
$411,400
Median Age
44.0
Poverty Rate
5.9%
Labor force participation
55.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
38.4%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
2091.7
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
656.1
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1435.6
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
2
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
12,000 residents12,500 residents13,000 residents13,500 residents 202020212022202320242025 12,292 residents 13,047 residents ▲ +6.1%
Garden City's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
89
housing units authorized
Single-Family
89
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
7.1
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 38
2020 12
2021 460
2022 56
2023 127
2024 89

Permit volume increased 134% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
17.2 minutes
Drive Alone
68.5%
Carpool
7.8%
Public Transit
0.5%
Walk
0.6%
Work from Home
18.4%
Other
4.2%

Based on 5,646 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Idaho - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$80
avg/month
Natural Gas
$50
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$40
avg/month
Total Utilities
$170
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Idaho state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Idaho state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Garden City sits in

Cost of Living Index
95.5
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,655/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
87.8 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Idaho

Blackfoot
12,628 people
Jerome
12,689 people
Star
13,231 people
Burley
11,721 people
Rathdrum
10,133 people
Middleton
10,101 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Garden City's 12,483 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Annapolis Neck, MD
12,484 people
Grenada, MS
12,484 people
Amelia, OH
12,482 people
Gold Canyon, AZ
12,488 people
Cascades, VA
12,489 people
Forest, VA
12,476 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Garden City's $66,859 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Kendall West, FL
$66,858 median income
Monmouth, OR
$66,858 median income
Le Center, MN
$66,864 median income
Arcadia, IN
$66,852 median income
Wisconsin Dells, WI
$66,846 median income
Hodges, AL
$66,875 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Garden City, ID Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Garden City, ID - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 86.3% 7.9% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 10.4% White 86.3% Black or African American 1.0% Asian 0.7% American Indian 0.2% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 3.9% Two or more races 7.9% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Garden City compares to nearby Idaho cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Garden City (this city) 12,483 $66,859
Blackfoot 12,628 $69,091
Jerome 12,689 $65,343
Star 13,231 $91,318
Census ACS 5-year FIPS ID FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Garden City, ID?

What is the population of Garden City, ID? +

Garden City, ID has a population of 12,483 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Garden City, ID? +

The median household income in Garden City is $66,859 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Garden City? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Garden City; the closest available measure is the Idaho state average, a cost of living index of 95.5 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Idaho vary by metro area.

Is Garden City, ID safe? +

Garden City has a total crime rate of 2091.7 per 100,000 residents, which is near the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Garden City, ID? +

Homes in Garden City carry a median value of $411,400, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.