County · Idaho
Owyhee County, Idaho
Owyhee County, Idaho. Owyhee County had 12,661 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 6.3% since 2020, slower than Idaho (+10.4%). It holds 5 places (3 cities, villages and boroughs and 2 census-designated) and 3 census tracts. GEOID 16073.
Owyhee County is one of the 5 counties of the Boise City, ID metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).
Residents, July 2025 estimate
12,661
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 11,913 · ACS 2020-2024: 12,503
Median household income
$64,406
±$9,360 (90% margin)
Idaho: $77,800
Median home value
$359,800
±$31,346 (90% margin)
Idaho: $418,600
Median gross rent
$821
±$122 (90% margin)
Idaho: $1,238
How many people live in Owyhee County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 11,913 residents in Owyhee County. The Census Bureau estimates 12,661 for July 1, 2025, up 6.3% since 2020, slower than Idaho (+10.4%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 12,503 over 7,668 square miles of land.
| Measure | Owyhee County | Idaho | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 12,503 | 1,934,262 | +951 |
| Households | 4,339±144 | 713,005 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.84±0.09 | 2.64 | +0.20 |
| Housing units | 4,869±35 | 795,014 | no clear change |
Owyhee County's population since 2000
From 10,644 in 2000 to 12,661 in 2025: up 18.9%. 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 Owyhee County?
Owyhee County holds 5 places: 3 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 2 census-designated places. The largest is Homedale with 3,138 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 Owyhee County?
The median resident of Owyhee County is 39.0 years old; 24.4% are under 18 and 19.3% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 67.8%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 24.8%. 10.8% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Owyhee County | Idaho | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.0±1.4 | 37.3 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 24.4% | 24.1% | – |
| 65 years and over | 19.3%±0.3 pts | 17.0% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 24.8% | 13.6% | −1.4 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 67.8%±1.3 pts | 78.6% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.5%±0.7 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.2 pts | 1.3% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 1.9%±0.9 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.2%±0.3 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.3%±1.4 pts | 4.2% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.3%±0.3 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 10.8%±1.6 pts | 5.9% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 21.2%±1.5 pts | 11.0% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.7%±1.4 pts | 8.0% | – |
| With a disability | 18.8%±2.2 pts | 14.1% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 21.9%±3.9 pts | 9.1% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 78.2%±3.3 pts | 91.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 12.4%±2.2 pts | 31.8% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 4.2%±1.3 pts | 10.5% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.4%±0.7 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 Owyhee County earn?
Half of Owyhee County's 4,339 households earn less than $64,406 a year (±$9,360), against $77,800 in Idaho. In 2015-2019 it was $53,902 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 12.2% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Owyhee County | Idaho | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $64,406±$9,360 | $77,800 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $79,387±$6,526 | $102,747 | – |
| Per capita income | $28,436±$2,071 | $38,952 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 12.2%±2.6 pts | 10.6% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 16.9%±5.6 pts | 12.4% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 11.8%±2.9 pts | 7.6% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 86.5%±2.7 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 Owyhee County?
Owners occupy 72.6% of Owyhee County's occupied homes and renters 27.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $359,800 by its owner (±$31,346). The median renter pays $821 a month including utilities, and 26.3% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Owyhee County | Idaho | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $359,800±$31,346 | $418,600 | +$177,903 |
| Median gross rent | $821±$122 | $1,238 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 26.3%±8.8 pts | 36.9% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,606±$100 | $1,687 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 72.6%±4.9 pts | 72.1% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 4,869±35 | 795,014 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.5%±0.9 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0%±2.9 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 72.2%±4.2 pts | 73.8% | – |
| Mobile homes | 21.7%±3.9 pts | 6.9% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 4.7%±2.2 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 8.4%±2.9 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 Owyhee County building?
Builders took permits for 36 new housing units across Owyhee County in 2025 (36 single-family), 2.8 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 Owyhee County get to work?
76.4% of Owyhee County's workers drive alone and 8.6% work from home. The average trip to work takes 27.7 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 2.0%.
| Measure | Owyhee County | Idaho | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 57.0%±2.6 pts | 63.0% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 2.0%±1.0 pts | 3.7% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 76.4%±4.1 pts | 72.7% | – |
| Carpooled | 9.9%±3.3 pts | 8.9% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Walked | 3.3%±1.5 pts | 2.6% | – |
| Worked from home | 8.6%±2.8 pts | 13.3% | no clear change |
| Mean travel time to work | 27.7 min±2.2 | 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 are Owyhee County's census tracts?
Owyhee County is divided into 3 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $59,033 (Tract 9502) to $70,750 (Tract 9501.01).
| Tract 9501.0116073950101 | 4,803±329 | $70,750 |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9501.0216073950102 | 3,509±351 | $63,292 |
| Tract 950216073950200 | 4,191±406 | $59,033 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Owyhee County compare with Idaho's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 26th of 44 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 29th of 44 |
| Residents per square mile | 40th of 44 |
| Median household income | 31st of 44 |
| Median home value | 18th of 44 |
| Median gross rent | 36th of 44 |
| Poverty rate | 18th of 43 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 43rd of 44 |
| Median age | 23rd 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 Owyhee 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.