City · Idaho

Melba, Idaho

Melba, city, in Canyon County, Idaho. Melba had 630 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 10.3% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 572 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 617 (±212). GEOID 1651850.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

630

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 572 · ACS 2020-2024: 617 ±212

Median household income

$45,750

±$15,184 (90% margin)
Idaho: $77,800

Median home value

$301,200

±$39,775 (90% margin)
Idaho: $418,600

Median gross rent

$1,067

±$123 (90% margin)
Idaho: $1,238

Where is Melba and what county is it in?

Melba is a city in Canyon County, Idaho. It covers 0.5 square miles of land, 1,252 residents per square mile in 2020.

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

Melba (marked with a dot) in Canyon 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 Melba, and is it growing?

The Census Bureau estimates that 630 people lived in Melba on July 1, 2025, up 10.3% since 2020, in line with Idaho (+10.4%). The 2020 Census counted 572 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 617 (±212).

  • July 2020→2021 +6 (576)
  • 2021→2022 −6 (570)
  • 2022→2023 +16 (586)
  • 2023→2024 +38 (624)
  • 2024→2025 +6 (630)
ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (counts) with the change from 2015-2019
Measure MelbaCanyon CountyIdaho Change since 2015-2019
Total population 617 ±212 250,790 1,934,262 no clear change
Households 223 ±70 86,069 713,005 no clear change
Average household size 2.77 ±0.54 2.87 2.64 no clear change
Housing units 240 ±76 89,135 795,014 no clear change

Melba's population since 2000

From 439 in 2000 to 630 in 2025: up 43.5%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Melba 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 439
  • 2005 (estimate) 491
  • 2010 Census 513
  • 2015 (estimate) 530
  • 2020 Census 572
  • 2025 (estimate) 630

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 Melba?

The median resident of Melba is 29.4 years old; 32.1% are under 18 and 9.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 75.2%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 24.0%.

Age, origin, education and moves, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure MelbaCanyon CountyIdaho Change since 2015-2019
Median age 29.4 ±7.6 34.9 37.3 no clear change
Under 18 years 32.1% ±9.0 pts 26.7% 24.1% –
65 years and over 9.2% ±4.3 pts 14.5% 17.0% –
Male 48.3% ±7.1 pts 49.9% 50.3% –
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 24.0% ±15.0 pts 26.0% 13.6% no clear change
White alone, not Hispanic 75.2% ±14.9 pts 67.1% 78.6% no clear change
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±5.5 pts 0.7% 0.7% –
Asian alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±5.5 pts 0.8% 1.3% –
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±5.5 pts 0.3% 0.7% –
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±5.5 pts 0.2% 0.1% –
Two or more races, not Hispanic 0.8% ±1.0 pts 4.0% 4.2% –
Some other race alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±5.5 pts 0.9% 0.6% –
Born outside the United States 13.1% ±9.1 pts 8.7% 5.9% –
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) 23.5% ±14.9 pts 19.2% 11.0% –
Civilian veterans (age 18+) 3.8% ±3.6 pts 8.4% 8.0% –
With a disability 15.4% ±5.8 pts 14.8% 14.1% –
No health insurance coverage 23.0% ±11.7 pts 12.3% 9.1% no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+) 82.2% ±10.6 pts 87.7% 91.9% –
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) 9.5% ±4.4 pts 23.2% 31.8% no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) 0.6% ±1.0 pts 6.9% 10.5% –
Lived in the same house a year earlier 95.0% ±2.9 pts 85.7% 84.9% –
Moved from another state in the past year 0.3% ±0.6 pts 3.3% 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 Melba earn?

Half of Melba's 223 households earn less than $45,750 a year (±$15,184), against $76,488 in Canyon County and $77,800 in Idaho. In 2015-2019 it was $48,374 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; 2015-2019 dollars adjusted with the R-CPI-U-RS
Measure MelbaCanyon CountyIdaho Change since 2015-2019
Median household income $45,750 ±$15,184 $76,488 $77,800 no clear change
Mean household income $66,471 ±$11,281 $93,734 $102,747 –
Per capita income $24,428 ±$4,324 $32,651 $38,952 no clear change
People below the poverty line 13.9% ±10.2 pts 10.5% 10.6% –
Children under 18 below the poverty line 17.7% ±22.3 pts 13.1% 12.4% –
Households receiving SNAP 13.5% ±6.1 pts 8.6% 7.6% –
Households with a computer 87.4% ±10.4 pts 96.8% 96.5% –
Households with a broadband subscription 89.2% ±10.3 pts 93.4% 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 Melba?

Owners occupy 87.0% of Melba's occupied homes and renters 13.0%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $301,200 by its owner (±$39,775). The median renter pays $1,067 a month including utilities, and 66.7% 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 MelbaCanyon CountyIdaho Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied) $301,200 ±$39,775 $390,000 $418,600 +$163,855
Median gross rent $1,067 ±$123 $1,347 $1,238 no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent 66.7% ±34.1 pts 36.1% 36.9% no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage $1,313 ±$130 $1,651 $1,687 –
Owner-occupied homes 87.0% ±6.6 pts 75.5% 72.1% +19.2 pts
Renter-occupied homes 13.0% ±6.6 pts 24.5% 27.9% –
Housing units 240 ±76 89,135 795,014 no clear change
Homeowner vacancy rate 0.0% ±16.4 pts 0.5% 0.7% –
Rental vacancy rate 0.0% ±57.1 pts 3.9% 3.9% –
Single-family detached homes 87.5% ±6.3 pts 79.0% 73.8% –
Mobile homes 6.7% ±3.7 pts 6.7% 6.9% –
Built 2020 or later 5.8% ±6.8 pts 6.3% 3.9% –
Built 2010 to 2019 8.8% ±7.2 pts 17.3% 14.2% –
Built 1939 or earlier 28.8% ±12.4 pts 7.0% 7.9% –
Households with no vehicle 0.4% ±1.4 pts 3.4% 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 Melba building?

Builders took permits for 3 new housing units in Melba in 2025 (3 in single-family houses), 4.8 per 1,000 residents against 8.8 across Idaho.

  • 2019 1 units
  • 2020 1 units
  • 2021 1 units
  • 2022 7 units
  • 2023 15 units
  • 2024 4 units
  • 2025 3 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 Melba work and get to work?

74.5% of Melba's workers drive alone and 14.2% work from home. The average trip to work takes 29.9 minutes.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (workers 16 and over)
Measure MelbaCanyon CountyIdaho Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+) 63.0% ±7.9 pts 64.8% 63.0% –
Unemployment rate 0.7% ±1.1 pts 3.7% 3.7% –
Drove alone to work 74.5% ±8.8 pts 73.5% 72.7% –
Carpooled 5.3% ±4.4 pts 10.0% 8.9% –
Public transportation 0.0% ±11.7 pts 0.1% 0.5% –
Walked 5.0% ±4.3 pts 1.7% 2.6% –
Worked from home 14.2% ±6.8 pts 13.0% 13.3% –
Mean travel time to work 29.9 min ±4.6 25.3 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 Melba?

No census tract lies mostly in Melba; 1 tract reaches into it (2020 census blocks).

Census tracts in Melba, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
TractResidents, 2020-2024Median household incomeMedian home valueShare of tract in Melba
Tract 223.01Canyon County3,125 $94,583 $539,0009%

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 Melba) · Census block assignment files

How does Melba compare with other places in Idaho?

By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Melba is the 12,268th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 114th-most populous of 198 in Idaho.

Melba is not ranked by income or the other survey measures: those rankings include places of 1,000 or more residents (2020 Census) with a reliable estimate.

Melba'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 estimate114th198

Melba's figures with every place in Idaho (CSV)

Every place in Idaho, sortable · Compare Melba 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 Melba?

21 of the 57 figures for Melba 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 Melba 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 Melba.