City profile · Idaho · Census ACS 2023

Melba, ID

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

624
Residents
$53,500
Median income
$306,000
Median home
$1,655
Median rent (state)

Melba - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Melba lands in the 25th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

25th
percentile, household income
66th
percentile, home value
65th
percentile, median rent
📝 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: Melba, ID

Idaho's Melba is a small town, with 624 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Melba households earn a median of $53,500 annually, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 15.7%. Typical homes in Melba are valued around $306,000, and the median resident age is 31.0 years. Educational attainment runs 8.3% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 65.1% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 4 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Building Boom), up 300% from five years earlier.

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. Monthly utility costs average around $170 across Idaho, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 87.8 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

624 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Idaho

Median Household Income

$53,500 /yr

Poverty 15.7%

Cost of Living Index (state)

95.5 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Idaho average

How does Melba compare to other US cities?

Here's how Melba stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 25% higher than other cities
Home value 66% pricier than other cities
Median rent 65% pricier than other cities

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

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Melba 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 Melba toward the top of Idaho's cities

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

Median Household Income
#147 of 206
29th percentile in Idaho
Median Gross Rent
#1 of 215
89th percentile in Idaho
Median Home Value
#58 of 204
72nd percentile in Idaho
Poverty Rate
#30 of 215
86th percentile in Idaho
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#188 of 215
13th 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.

25thIncome percentile

25th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Melba's home value compares nationally

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

$306,000 34th percentile more affordable than 34% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $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. Melba $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 - Melba, ID Melba, ID's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Melba, 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 Melba, ID median $53,500/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%
Melba, 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 Melba, ID. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 8.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 15.7%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 65.1%

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

Population
624
Median Income
$53,500
Median Home Value
$306,000
Median Age
31.0
Poverty Rate
15.7%
Labor force participation
65.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
8.3%

Schools

Total Schools
1
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
560 residents580 residents600 residents620 residents640 residents 202020212022202320242025 570 residents 630 residents ▲ +10.5%
Melba's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
4
housing units authorized
Single-Family
4
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
6.4
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 1
2020 1
2021 1
2022 7
2023 15
2024 4

Permit volume increased 300% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
77.2%
Carpool
11.4%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
4.0%
Work from Home
6.4%
Other
1.0%

Based on 298 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 Melba 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

Blanchard
625 people
Dover
628 people
Paris
634 people
Silverton
606 people
Parker
643 people
Arbon Valley
604 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Melba's 624 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Buena Vista, CA
624 people
Everton, IN
624 people
Vienna, LA
624 people
Brownsville, MN
624 people
Roxie, MS
624 people
Walton, NE
624 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Melba's $53,500 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Vanceboro, ME
$53,500 median income
Lewistown, MO
$53,500 median income
Chesterville, OH
$53,500 median income
McClure, OH
$53,500 median income
Beaver, OK
$53,500 median income
Warrior Run, PA
$53,500 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Melba, 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 Melba, ID - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 64.7% 21.1% 13.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 33.0% White 64.7% Black or African American 0.3% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 21.1% Two or more races 13.8% 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 Melba 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
Melba (this city) 624 $53,500
Blanchard 625 $55,212
Dover 628 $108,393
Paris 634 $82,500
Census ACS 5-year FIPS ID NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Melba, ID?

What is the population of Melba, ID? +

624 people live in Melba, ID according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Melba, ID? +

Median annual household income in Melba runs $53,500, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Melba? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Melba; 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.

What is the median home value in Melba, ID? +

Homes in Melba carry a median value of $306,000, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, 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.