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Buying a home in Jerome County, Idaho

The typical owner-occupied home in Jerome County is worth about $271,800, 35% below the Idaho median of $418,600 and 18% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,725 a year in property taxes, about 0.63% of their home's value, higher than the Idaho rate of 0.49%. The median household earns $71,724 a year, so the median home costs 3.8 times the median income (5.4 times for Idaho). 75% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 65% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Jerome County at a glance

Jerome County Idaho U.S.
Median home value $271,800 $418,600 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $1,725 $2,038 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.63% 0.49% 0.94%
Median household income $71,724 $77,800 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 75% 72% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 65% 62% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,363 $1,687 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 20.7% 20.7% 21.0%
Median rent $966 $1,238 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 23.2% 28.7% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1983 1991 1980
Vacant homes 6.0% 10.3% 10.1%
Population 25,173 1,934,262 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Jerome County

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Jerome County home of $271,800 with 20% down costs about $1,719 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $2,171, 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 $73,658 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 29% of the median Jerome County household income of $71,724; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $265,000.

The median rent here is $966 a month, so owning the median home costs about $753 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$54,360
Loan amount$217,440
Principal and interest$1,463
Property taxes (0.63% a year)$143
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$113
PMI$0
Total per month$1,719

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$9,513
Loan amount$266,877
Principal and interest$1,795
Property taxes (0.63% a year)$143
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$113
FHA mortgage insurance$120
Total per month$2,171

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Questions about home buying in Jerome County

What is the median home value in Jerome County?

About $271,800 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Jerome County?

Homeowners pay a median $1,725 a year, which is about 0.63% 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 Jerome County?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,719 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $73,658 a year.

More about Jerome 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