City · Idaho

Garden City, Idaho

Garden City, city, in Ada County, Idaho. Garden City had 13,047 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 6.1% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 12,316 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 12,654 (±48). GEOID 1629620.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

13,047

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 12,316 · ACS 2020-2024: 12,654 ±48

Median household income

$70,124

±$6,302 (90% margin)
Idaho: $77,800

Median home value

$449,500

±$39,795 (90% margin)
Idaho: $418,600

Median gross rent

$1,323

±$142 (90% margin)
Idaho: $1,238

Where is Garden City and what county is it in?

Garden City is a city in Ada County, Idaho. It covers 4.1 square miles of land, 3,018 residents per square mile in 2020.

Garden City is in the Boise City, ID metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 5 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).

Garden City (marked with a dot) in Ada County, Idaho. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files

How many people live in Garden City, and is it growing?

The Census Bureau estimates that 13,047 people lived in Garden City on July 1, 2025, up 6.1% since 2020, slower than Idaho (+10.4%). The 2020 Census counted 12,316 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 12,654 (±48).

  • July 2020→2021 +16 (12,308)
  • 2021→2022 +631 (12,939)
  • 2022→2023 −132 (12,807)
  • 2023→2024 +109 (12,916)
  • 2024→2025 +131 (13,047)
ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (counts) with the change from 2015-2019
Measure Garden CityAda CountyIdaho Change since 2015-2019
Total population 12,654 ±48 518,935 1,934,262 +835
Households 5,630 ±370 202,543 713,005 no clear change
Average household size 2.19 ±0.14 2.49 2.64 no clear change
Housing units 5,916 ±406 211,440 795,014 no clear change

Garden City's population since 2000

From 10,624 in 2000 to 13,047 in 2025: up 22.8%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Garden City as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.

  • 2000 Census 10,624
  • 2005 (estimate) 10,803
  • 2010 Census 10,972
  • 2015 (estimate) 11,665
  • 2020 Census 12,316
  • 2025 (estimate) 13,047

Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Garden City?

The median resident of Garden City is 42.3 years old; 19.7% are under 18 and 25.8% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 81.3%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 12.4%. 5.6% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin, education and moves, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure Garden CityAda CountyIdaho Change since 2015-2019
Median age 42.3 ±6.4 38.4 37.3 no clear change
Under 18 years 19.7% ±4.0 pts 22.0% 24.1% –
65 years and over 25.8% ±3.4 pts 16.2% 17.0% –
Male 48.5% ±3.2 pts 50.4% 50.3% –
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 12.4% ±3.4 pts 9.8% 13.6% no clear change
White alone, not Hispanic 81.3% ±4.0 pts 80.9% 78.6% −5.9 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic 0.7% ±0.9 pts 1.3% 0.7% –
Asian alone, not Hispanic 0.7% ±0.5 pts 2.7% 1.3% –
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic 0.2% ±0.2 pts 0.3% 0.7% –
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±0.3 pts 0.2% 0.1% –
Two or more races, not Hispanic 4.7% ±1.9 pts 4.3% 4.2% –
Some other race alone, not Hispanic 0.1% ±0.2 pts 0.5% 0.6% –
Born outside the United States 5.6% ±2.6 pts 6.2% 5.9% no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) 11.1% ±4.7 pts 9.3% 11.0% –
Civilian veterans (age 18+) 7.5% ±1.8 pts 7.8% 8.0% –
With a disability 16.5% ±3.6 pts 11.8% 14.1% –
No health insurance coverage 7.1% ±2.1 pts 6.4% 9.1% −5.3 pts
High school graduate or higher (age 25+) 91.4% ±3.9 pts 95.2% 91.9% –
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) 39.2% ±3.5 pts 44.6% 31.8% no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) 12.2% ±2.5 pts 15.6% 10.5% –
Lived in the same house a year earlier 86.9% ±3.3 pts 83.2% 84.9% –
Moved from another state in the past year 3.4% ±1.2 pts 5.1% 4.6% –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov

What do households in Garden City earn?

Half of Garden City's 5,630 households earn less than $70,124 a year (±$6,302), against $91,502 in Ada County and $77,800 in Idaho. In 2015-2019 the median was $60,695 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $9,429 after inflation. 12.0% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; 2015-2019 dollars adjusted with the R-CPI-U-RS
Measure Garden CityAda CountyIdaho Change since 2015-2019
Median household income $70,124 ±$6,302 $91,502 $77,800 +$9,429
Mean household income $102,118 ±$8,140 $124,631 $102,747 –
Per capita income $46,354 ±$4,567 $49,757 $38,952 no clear change
People below the poverty line 12.0% ±4.4 pts 8.3% 10.6% no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line 21.4% ±13.0 pts 8.5% 12.4% no clear change
Households receiving SNAP 12.3% ±3.3 pts 5.1% 7.6% –
Households with a computer 97.5% ±1.5 pts 98.0% 96.5% –
Households with a broadband subscription 94.7% ±2.2 pts 94.7% 91.9% –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What does housing cost in Garden City?

Owners occupy 63.1% of Garden City's occupied homes and renters 36.9%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $449,500 by its owner (±$39,795). The median renter pays $1,323 a month including utilities, and 41.9% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Home values are owners' own estimates.
Measure Garden CityAda CountyIdaho Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied) $449,500 ±$39,795 $512,300 $418,600 +$156,472
Median gross rent $1,323 ±$142 $1,577 $1,238 +$207
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent 41.9% ±11.2 pts 38.5% 36.9% no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage $1,667 ±$163 $1,905 $1,687 –
Owner-occupied homes 63.1% ±5.0 pts 70.8% 72.1% no clear change
Renter-occupied homes 36.9% ±5.0 pts 29.2% 27.9% –
Housing units 5,916 ±406 211,440 795,014 no clear change
Homeowner vacancy rate 0.0% ±1.0 pts 0.6% 0.7% –
Rental vacancy rate 4.0% ±4.3 pts 4.1% 3.9% –
Single-family detached homes 51.1% ±4.1 pts 74.1% 73.8% –
Mobile homes 13.7% ±3.5 pts 2.7% 6.9% –
Built 2020 or later 1.6% ±1.2 pts 5.7% 3.9% –
Built 2010 to 2019 17.1% ±4.0 pts 19.1% 14.2% –
Built 1939 or earlier 0.8% ±0.7 pts 3.9% 7.9% –
Households with no vehicle 5.4% ±2.2 pts 3.8% 3.7% –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov

How many new homes is Garden City building?

Builders took permits for 30 new housing units in Garden City in 2025 (17 in single-family houses), 2.3 per 1,000 residents against 8.8 across Idaho.

  • 2019 38 units
  • 2020 12 units
  • 2021 460 units
  • 2022 56 units
  • 2023 127 units
  • 2024 89 units
  • 2025 30 units

Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Garden City work and get to work?

69.6% of Garden City's workers drive alone and 17.7% work from home. The average trip to work takes 19.5 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.4%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (workers 16 and over)
Measure Garden CityAda CountyIdaho Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+) 57.2% ±4.4 pts 65.8% 63.0% –
Unemployment rate 3.4% ±1.6 pts 3.1% 3.7% no clear change
Drove alone to work 69.6% ±5.6 pts 69.3% 72.7% –
Carpooled 8.1% ±3.2 pts 7.1% 8.9% –
Public transportation 0.0% ±0.1 pts 0.3% 0.5% –
Walked 0.3% ±0.4 pts 2.1% 2.6% –
Worked from home 17.7% ±4.8 pts 18.5% 13.3% +7.8 pts
Mean travel time to work 19.5 min ±1.7 21.2 min 21.6 min no clear change

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What census tracts are in Garden City?

4 census tracts lie mostly in Garden City, and 3 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $59,931 (Tract 11) to $93,417 (Tract 102.36).

Census tracts in Garden City, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
TractResidents, 2020-2024Median household incomeMedian home valueShare of tract in Garden City
Tract 11Ada County5,429 $59,931 $227,10090%
Tract 102.36Ada County2,937 $93,417 $657,00095%
Tract 24.12Ada County4,092 $74,464 $454,10061%
Tract 3.03Ada County1,917 $61,063 $446,60057%
Tract 24.19Ada County3,796 $73,571 $468,30010%
Tract 102.34Ada County4,806 $83,401 $630,5003%
Tract 102.37Ada County5,199 $83,790 $460,4002%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Garden City) · Census block assignment files

How does Garden City compare with other places in Idaho?

By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Garden City is the 2,665th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 23rd-most populous of 198 in Idaho.

Garden City ranks 40th of 90 places in Idaho with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.

Garden City's rank in Idaho (1 = highest): by population among the state's incorporated places with a 2025 estimate; by the other measures among places of 1,000+ residents with a reliable estimate
MeasureRankOf
Population, July 2025 estimate23rd198
Growth 2020-2025 (PEP)51st83
Residents per square mile8th91
Median household income40th90
Per capita income9th91
Median home value21st90
Median gross rent16th84
Poverty rate36th76
Bachelor's degree or higher17th90
Median age18th90
Owner-occupied share69th90
Work from home9th59
Travel time to work53rd90

Garden City's figures with every place in Idaho (CSV)

Every place in Idaho, sortable · Compare Garden City with other places

Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed

How reliable are the figures for Garden City?

11 of the 57 figures for Garden City on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.

The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation

How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections

Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Garden City are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Garden City.