County · Idaho
Lincoln County, Idaho
Lincoln County, Idaho. Lincoln County had 5,603 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 9.2% since 2020, slower than Idaho (+10.4%). It holds 3 places (3 cities, villages and boroughs) and 1 census tract. GEOID 16063.
Lincoln County is one of the 3 counties of the Hailey, ID micropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).
Residents, July 2025 estimate
5,603
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 5,127 · ACS 2020-2024: 5,358
Median household income
$71,453
±$5,217 (90% margin)
Idaho: $77,800
Median home value
$255,600
±$15,905 (90% margin)
Idaho: $418,600
Median gross rent
$1,021
±$121 (90% margin)
Idaho: $1,238
How many people live in Lincoln County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 5,127 residents in Lincoln County. The Census Bureau estimates 5,603 for July 1, 2025, up 9.2% since 2020, slower than Idaho (+10.4%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 5,358 over 1,201 square miles of land.
| Measure | Lincoln County | Idaho | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 5,358 | 1,934,262 | +8 |
| Households | 1,848±53 | 713,005 | +124 |
| Average household size | 2.87±0.08 | 2.64 | −0.21 |
| Housing units | 1,989±18 | 795,014 | no clear change |
Lincoln County's population since 2000
From 4,044 in 2000 to 5,603 in 2025: up 38.6%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. 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.
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); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What cities and towns are in Lincoln County?
Lincoln County holds 3 places: 3 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places). The largest is Shoshone with 1,767 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Lincoln County?
The median resident of Lincoln County is 37.2 years old; 26.0% are under 18 and 15.4% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 62.2%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 32.4%. 15.7% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Lincoln County | Idaho | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.2±1.5 | 37.3 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 26.0%±0.5 pts | 24.1% | – |
| 65 years and over | 15.4%±1.0 pts | 17.0% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 32.4% | 13.6% | +1.7 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 62.2%±1.1 pts | 78.6% | −3.9 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.6%±0.3 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.3%±0.3 pts | 1.3% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.4%±0.3 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.6 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.9%±1.2 pts | 4.2% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.2%±0.2 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 15.7%±1.8 pts | 5.9% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 27.8%±1.8 pts | 11.0% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.5%±1.8 pts | 8.0% | – |
| With a disability | 14.6%±2.3 pts | 14.1% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 11.9%±1.8 pts | 9.1% | −9.7 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 84.0%±2.9 pts | 91.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 11.1%±2.1 pts | 31.8% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 4.1%±1.0 pts | 10.5% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.2%±0.8 pts | 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 Lincoln County earn?
Half of Lincoln County's 1,848 households earn less than $71,453 a year (±$5,217), against $77,800 in Idaho. In 2015-2019 the median was $61,600 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $9,853 after inflation. 10.5% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Lincoln County | Idaho | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $71,453±$5,217 | $77,800 | +$9,853 |
| Mean household income | $80,528±$6,080 | $102,747 | – |
| Per capita income | $29,550±$2,108 | $38,952 | +$2,898 |
| People below the poverty line | 10.5%±2.7 pts | 10.6% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 10.9%±4.7 pts | 12.4% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 6.0%±2.0 pts | 7.6% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 86.4%±3.5 pts | 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 Lincoln County?
Owners occupy 78.9% of Lincoln County's occupied homes and renters 21.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $255,600 by its owner (±$15,905). The median renter pays $1,021 a month including utilities, and 31.7% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Lincoln County | Idaho | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $255,600±$15,905 | $418,600 | +$76,411 |
| Median gross rent | $1,021±$121 | $1,238 | +$235 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 31.7%±11.1 pts | 36.9% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,305±$62 | $1,687 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 78.9%±4.3 pts | 72.1% | +10.7 pts |
| Housing units | 1,989±18 | 795,014 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.4%±1.6 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0%±8.6 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 78.6%±3.8 pts | 73.8% | – |
| Mobile homes | 18.3%±3.9 pts | 6.9% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 2.3%±1.9 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 13.8%±3.1 pts | 7.9% | – |
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 Lincoln County building?
Builders took permits for 16 new housing units across Lincoln County in 2025 (16 single-family), 2.9 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Lincoln County get to work?
78.6% of Lincoln County's workers drive alone and 5.3% work from home. The average trip to work takes 33.6 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.9%.
| Measure | Lincoln County | Idaho | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 67.4%±2.6 pts | 63.0% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.9%±2.7 pts | 3.7% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 78.6%±4.9 pts | 72.7% | – |
| Carpooled | 11.2%±3.0 pts | 8.9% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.8%±0.8 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Walked | 3.2%±1.9 pts | 2.6% | – |
| Worked from home | 5.3%±1.6 pts | 13.3% | no clear change |
| Mean travel time to work | 33.6 min±2.4 | 21.6 min | +4.0 min |
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 are Lincoln County's census tracts?
Lincoln County is a single census tract.
| Tract 950116063950100 | 5,358 | $71,453 |
|---|
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Lincoln County compare with Idaho's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 37th of 44 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 19th of 44 |
| Residents per square mile | 31st of 44 |
| Median household income | 17th of 44 |
| Median home value | 38th of 44 |
| Median gross rent | 13th of 44 |
| Poverty rate | 28th of 43 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 44th of 44 |
| Median age | 28th of 44 |
Source: PlainCities ranks 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 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 Lincoln County 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' school search.