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Buying a home in Elmore County, Idaho

The typical owner-occupied home in Elmore County is worth about $316,500, 24% below the Idaho median of $418,600 and 5% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,701 a year in property taxes, about 0.54% of their home's value, higher than the Idaho rate of 0.49%. The median household earns $65,359 a year, so the median home costs 4.8 times the median income (5.4 times for Idaho). 66% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 61% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Elmore County at a glance

Elmore County Idaho U.S.
Median home value $316,500 $418,600 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $1,701 $2,038 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.54% 0.49% 0.94%
Median household income $65,359 $77,800 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 66% 72% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 61% 62% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,397 $1,687 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 21.7% 20.7% 21.0%
Median rent $1,243 $1,238 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 28.2% 28.7% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1988 1991 1980
Vacant homes 9.8% 10.3% 10.1%
Population 29,321 1,934,262 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Elmore County

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Elmore County home of $316,500 with 20% down costs about $1,978 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $2,505, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.

Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $84,754 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 36% of the median Elmore County household income of $65,359; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $244,000.

The median rent here is $1,243 a month, so owning the median home costs about $735 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$63,300
Loan amount$253,200
Principal and interest$1,703
Property taxes (0.54% a year)$142
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$132
PMI$0
Total per month$1,978

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$11,078
Loan amount$310,767
Principal and interest$2,091
Property taxes (0.54% a year)$142
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$132
FHA mortgage insurance$140
Total per month$2,505

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Questions about home buying in Elmore County

What is the median home value in Elmore County?

About $316,500 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Elmore County?

Homeowners pay a median $1,701 a year, which is about 0.54% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.

What income do you need to buy a home in Elmore County?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,978 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $84,754 a year.

More about Elmore County

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data