County population in 2014: 16,866 (55% urban, 45% rural); it was 15,181 in 2000County owner-occupied with a mortgage or a loan houses and condos in 2010: 3,293 County owner-occupied free and clear houses and condos in 2010: 1,638 County owner-occupied houses and condos in 2000: 4,423 Renter-occupied apartments: 1,564 (it was 1,116 in 2000)
% of renters here:
20%
State:
30%
Land area: 563 sq. mi.
Water area: 3.2 sq. mi.
Population density: 30 people per square mile (low).
Mar. 2016 cost of living index in Gem County: 91.4 (less than average, U.S. average is 100)
Industries providing employment: Transportation and warehousing,and utilities (22.5%), Educational, health and social services (19.8%), Professional, scientific, management, administrative, and waste management services (17.9%), Retail trade (11.6%), Agriculture,forestry,fishing and hunting, and mining (10.8%).
Estimated median household income in 2015: $41,421 ($34,460 in 1999)
This county:
$41,421
Idaho:
$48,275
Median contract rent in 2015 for apartments: $617 (lower quartile is $463, upper quartile is $757)
This county:
$617
State:
$658
Estimated median house or condo value in 2015: $151,733 (it was $99,500 in 2000)
Gem:
$151,733
Idaho:
$176,300
Lower value quartile - upper value quartile: $103,676 - $217,735 Median monthly housing costs for homes and condos with a mortgage: $1,074 Median monthly housing costs for units without a mortgage: $309
Institutionalized population: 129
Crime in 2005 (reported by the sheriff's office or county police, not the county total):
Murders: 0
Rapes: 2
Robberies: 0
Assaults: 10
Burglaries: 6
Thefts: 11
Auto thefts: 3
Crime in 2004 (reported by the sheriff's office or county police, not the county total):
Murders: 0
Rapes: 2
Robberies: 0
Assaults: 6
Burglaries: 8
Thefts: 12
Auto thefts: 9
Single-family new house construction building permits:
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with mortgages in 2015: $951 (0.6%) Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with no mortgage in 2015: $898 (0.7%)
Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2015: 18.0%
(16.4% for White Non-Hispanic residents, 35.2% for Hispanic or Latino residents, 8.6% for American Indian residents, 100.0% for Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander residents, 20.7% for two or more races residents)
Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2015: 17.6%
Gem County:
17.6%
Idaho:
15.1%
(16.4% for White Non-Hispanic residents, 32.5% for Hispanic or Latino residents, 7.4% for American Indian residents, 100.0% for Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander residents, 17.4% for two or more races residents)
Median age of residents in 2015: 45 years old
(Males: 41 years old, Females: 47 years old)
(Median age for: White residents: 48 years old, American Indian residents: 54 years old, Asian residents: 51 years old, Hispanic or Latino residents: 29 years old, Other race residents: 39 years old)
Fair market rent in 2006 for a 1-bedroom apartment in Gem County is $509 a month. Fair market rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $566 a month. Fair market rent for a 3-bedroom apartment is $823 a month.
Current college students: 417 People 25 years of age or older with a high school degree or higher: 79.4% People 25 years of age or older with a bachelor's degree or higher: 11.4%
Number of foreign born residents: 751 (30% naturalized citizens)
Gem County:
4.9%
Whole state:
5.0%
Year of entry for the foreign-born population
1995 to March 2000: 171
1990 to 1994: 162
1985 to 1989: 157
1980 to 1984: 71
1975 to 1979: 30
1970 to 1974: 19
1970 to 1974: 36
1965 to 1969: 105
Note: State values scaled to Gem County population
Mean travel time to work (commute): 26.9 minutes
Percentage of county residents living and working in this county: 55.5%
Housing units in structures:
One, detached: 4,624
One, attached: 92
Two: 113
3 or 4: 84
5 to 9: 94
10 to 19: 15
20 or more: 23
Mobile homes: 822
Boats, RVs, vans, etc.: 21
Housing units in Gem County with a mortgage: 2,076 (251 second mortgage, 285 home equity loan, 0 both second mortgage and home equity loan) Houses without a mortgage: 1,029
Here:
66.9% with mortgage
State:
73.2% with mortgage
Religion statistics for Gem County
Religion
Adherents
Congregations
Catholic
4,989
1
Other
3,108
9
Evangelical Protestant
858
10
Mainline Protestant
468
5
None
7,296
-
Gem County Religion Details
Source: Clifford Grammich, Kirk Hadaway, Richard Houseal, Dale E.Jones, Alexei Krindatch, Richie Stanley and Richard H.Taylor. 2012. 2010 U.S.Religion Census: Religious Congregations & Membership Study. Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies. Jones, Dale E., et al. 2002. Congregations and Membership in the United States 2000. Nashville, TN: Glenmary Research Center.
Food Environment Statistics:
Number of grocery stores: 2
Gem County:
1.22 / 10,000 pop.
State:
1.88 / 10,000 pop.
Number of convenience stores (no gas): 1
This county:
0.61 / 10,000 pop.
Idaho:
0.53 / 10,000 pop.
Number of convenience stores (with gas): 4
Gem County:
2.43 / 10,000 pop.
Idaho:
3.87 / 10,000 pop.
Number of full-service restaurants: 10
This county:
6.08 / 10,000 pop.
State:
7.75 / 10,000 pop.
Adult diabetes rate:
Gem County:
8.7%
Idaho:
7.7%
Adult obesity rate:
Gem County:
30.4%
State:
25.7%
Low-income preschool obesity rate:
Here:
12.3%
State:
11.7%
Agriculture in Gem County:
Average size of farms: 276 acres Average value of agricultural products sold per farm: $34,248 Average value of crops sold per acre for harvested cropland: $366.22 The value of livestock, poultry, and their products as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 67.82% Average total farm production expenses per farm: $36,483 Harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 10.91% Irrigated harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 91.51% Average market value of all machinery and equipment per farm: $36,071 The percentage of farms operated by a family or individual: 93.64% Average age of principal farm operators: 54 years Average number of cattle and calves per 100 acres of all land in farms: 12.38 Milk cows as a percentage of all cattle and calves: 8.40% Corn for grain: 1765 harvested acres All wheat for grain: 1892 harvested acres Vegetables: 24 harvested acres Land in orchards: 591 acres
Earthquake activity:
Gem County-area historical earthquake activity is slightly above Idaho state average. It is 341% greater than the overall U.S. average.
On 10/28/1983 at 14:06:06, a magnitude 7.3 (6.2 MB, 7.3 MS, 7.0 MW, Class: Major, Intensity: VIII - XII) earthquake occurred 132.0 miles away from Gem County center, causing 2 deaths (2 shaking deaths) and 3 injuries, causing $15,000,000 total damage On 10/3/1915 at 06:52:48, a magnitude 7.6 (7.6 UK) earthquake occurred 245.9 miles away from the county center On 8/18/1959 at 06:37:13, a magnitude 7.7 (7.7 UK) earthquake occurred 290.0 miles away from the county center, causing $26,000,000 total damage On 12/16/1954 at 11:07:12, a magnitude 7.0 (7.0 UK) earthquake occurred 339.5 miles away from the county center On 12/21/1932 at 06:10:09, a magnitude 7.2 (7.2 UK) earthquake occurred 387.0 miles away from Gem County center On 8/24/1954 at 05:51:30, a magnitude 6.8 (6.8 UK, Class: Strong, Intensity: VII - IX) earthquake occurred 323.5 miles away from the county center Magnitude types: body-wave magnitude (MB), surface-wave magnitude (MS), moment magnitude (MW)
Most recent natural disasters:
Idaho Severe Storms and Flooding, Incident Period: June 02, 2010 to June 10, 2010, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1927: July 27, 2010, FEMA Id: 1927, Natural disaster type: Storm, Flood
Idaho Hurricane Katrina Evacuation, Incident Period: August 29, 2005 to October 01, 2005, Emergency Declared EM-3244: September 13, 2005, FEMA Id: 3244, Natural disaster type: Hurricane
Idaho Severe Storms/Flooding, Incident Period: November 16, 1996 to January 03, 1997, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1154: January 04, 1997, FEMA Id: 1154, Natural disaster type: Storm, Flood
Idaho Heavy Rains & Flooding, Incident Period: December 31, 1964, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-186: December 31, 1964, FEMA Id: 186, Natural disaster type: Flood, Heavy Rain
The number of natural disasters in Gem County (4) is a lot smaller than the US average (13). Major Disasters (Presidential) Declared: 3 Emergencies Declared: 1
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations (8%)
Management occupations (7%)
Architecture and engineering occupations (6%)
Office and administrative support occupations (5%)
Office and administrative support occupations (24%)
Education, training, and library occupations (13%)
Personal care and service occupations (11%)
Sales and related occupations (10%)
Management occupations (9%)
Food preparation and serving related occupations (7%)
Health diagnosing and treating practitioners and other technical occupations (6%)
Most common places of birth for the foreign-born residents (%):
Mexico (73%)
Germany (3%)
China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (3%)
Canada (3%)
United Kingdom (2%)
Spain (2%)
Philippines (2%)
Most common first ancestries reported in Gem County (%):
United States or American (19%)
German (17%)
English (13%)
Irish (7%)
Norwegian (4%)
Scottish (3%)
Scotch-Irish (2%)
Means of transportation to work:
Drove a car alone: 4,772 (77%)
Carpooled: 839 (13%)
Taxi: 6 (0%)
Bicycle: 9 (0%)
Walked: 167 (3%)
Other means: 50 (1%)
Worked at home: 384 (6%)
Owners and renters by unit type in %
Breakdown of mean house values by ages of householders ($)
People in group quarters in Gem County, Idaho in 2000:
103 people in nursing homes
53 people in other noninstitutional group quarters
24 people in local jails and other confinement facilities (including police lockups)
11 people in residential treatment centers for emotionally disturbed children
6 people in training schools for juvenile delinquents
2 people in homes for the mentally ill
People in group quarters in Gem County, Idaho in 2010:
76 people in nursing facilities/skilled-nursing facilities
47 people in local jails and other municipal confinement facilities
16 people in other noninstitutional facilities
6 people in correctional facilities intended for juveniles
6 people in workers' group living quarters and job corps centers
Average gross adjusted income of non-migrant taxpayers in this county in 2010 was $40,062.
7.72% of this county's 2011 resident taxpayers lived in other counties in 2010 ($32,499 average adjusted gross income)
Here:
7.72%
Idaho average:
7.20%
10 or fewer of this county's residents moved from foreign countries.
4.75% relocated from other counties in Idaho ($16,839 average AGI)
2.96% relocated from other states ($15,657 average AGI)
Gem County:
2.96%
Idaho average:
3.91%
Percentage of residents relocating from other counties or countries
Top counties from which taxpayers relocated into this county between 2010 and 2011:
7.50% of this county's 2010 resident taxpayers moved to other counties in 2011 ($30,995 average adjusted gross income)
Here:
7.50%
Idaho average:
7.21%
10 or fewer of this county's residents moved to foreign countries.
4.94% relocated to other counties in Idaho ($20,502 average AGI)
2.56% relocated to other states ($10,493 average AGI)
Gem County:
2.56%
Idaho average:
3.91%
Percentage of residents relocating to other counties or countries
Top counties to which taxpayers relocated from this county between 2010 and 2011:
Births per 1000 population from 1990 to 1999: 13.4 Births per 1000 population from 2000 to 2006: 13.3
Births per 1000 population in Gem County
Deaths per 1000 population from 1990 to 1999: 10.6 Deaths per 1000 population from 2000 to 2006: 10.9 Deaths per 1000 population from 2007 to 2014: 11.3
Deaths per 1000 population in Gem County
Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 1990 to 1999: 11.9 Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 2000 to 2006: 4.7
Infant deaths per 1000 live births in Gem County
Population without health insurance coverage in 2013: 22.5% Persons under 19 years old without health insurance coverage in 2013: 12.6%
Percentage of population without health insurance coverage in Gem County
Percentage of population without health insurance coverage in Gem County
Persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare) in July 1, 2007: 3,212 (2,747 aged, 465 disabled) Children under 18 without health insurance coverage in 2007: 460 (11%)
Persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare)
Aged persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare)
Disabled persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare)
Most common underlying causes of death in Gem County, Idaho in 1999 - 2014:
Bronchus or lung, unspecified - Malignant neoplasms (196)
Stroke, not specified as haemorrhage or infarction (113)
Congestive heart failure (83)
Pneumonia, unspecified (68)
Alzheimer's disease, unspecified (66)
Colon, unspecified - Malignant neoplasms (44)
Population without health insurance coverage in 2000: 18% Children under 18 without health insurance coverage in 2000: 17%
Short term general hospitals per 100,000 population in 2004: 6.26 Short term general hospital admissions per 100,000 population in 2004: 3,057 Short term general hospital beds per 100,000 population in 2004: 100 Emergency room visits per 100,000 population in 2004: 25,603
General practice office based MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 1,217 Medical specialist MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 1,198
Total births per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006 : 14 Total deaths per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006: 61
Limited-service eating places per 100,000 population in 2005 : 18
EPA green book nonattainment status in 2004-2006: 1
Household type by relationship:
Households: 16,568
In family households: 14,314 (3,599 male householders, 1,012 female householders)
3,698 spouses, 4,732 children (4,290 natural, 135 adopted, 307 stepchildren), 386 grandchildren, 99 brothers or sisters, 102 parents, 151 other relatives, 413 non-relatives
In nonfamily households: 2,254 (863 male householders (694 living alone)), 1,021 female householders (884 living alone)), 370 nonrelatives
In group quarters: 151 (129 institutionalized population)
Size of family households: 2,275 2-persons, 861 3-persons, 753 4-persons, 405 5-persons, 178 6-persons, 139 7-or-more-persons.
3,196 married couples with children.
648 single-parent households (174 men, 474 women).
92.8% of residents of Gem County speak English at home.
5.7% of residents speak Spanish at home (48% speak English very well, 29% speak English well, 16% speak English not well, 7% don't speak English at all).
0.8% of residents speak other Indo-European language at home (48% speak English very well, 19% speak English well, 28% speak English not well, 6% don't speak English at all).
0.5% of residents speak Asian or Pacific Island language at home (60% speak English very well, 17% speak English well, 23% speak English not well).
0.2% of residents speak other language at home (42% speak English very well, 58% speak English well).
In fiscal year 2004:
Federal Government expenditure: $82,263,000 ($5,153 per capita) Department of Defense expenditure: $3,740,000 Federal direct payments to individuals for retirement and disability: $44,316,000 Federal other direct payments to individuals: $14,612,000 Federal direct payments not to individuals: $427,000 Federal grants: $16,076,000 Federal procurement contracts: $1,120,000 ($0,000 Department of Defense) Federal salaries and wages: $5,711,000 ($1,020,000 Department of Defense) Federal Government direct loans: $3,334,000 Federal guaranteed/insured loans: $17,733,000 Federal Government insurance: $4,966,000
Population change from April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2005:
Births: 1,046
Here:
64 per 1000 residents
State:
78 per 1000 residents
Deaths: 895
Here:
55 per 1000 residents
State:
37 per 1000 residents
Net international migration: +136
Here:
+8 per 1000 residents
State:
+10 per 1000 residents
Net internal migration: +829
Here:
+51 per 1000 residents
State:
+43 per 1000 residents
Population growth in Gem County
Total withdrawal of fresh water for public supply: 1.07 millions of gallons per day (all from ground)
Note: State values scaled to Gem County population
no vehicle: 116
1 vehicle: 928
2 vehicles: 1,893
3 vehicles: 940
4 vehicles: 401
5+ vehicles: 145
no vehicle: 96
1 vehicle: 517
2 vehicles: 374
3 vehicles: 108
4 vehicles: 8
5+ vehicles: 13
56% of Gem County residents lived in the same house 5 years ago. Out of people who lived in different houses, 45% lived in this county. Out of people who lived in different counties, 53% lived in Idaho.
Gem County:
56.3%
State average:
50.5%
Place of birth for U.S.-born residents:
This state: 7,437
Northeast: 256
Midwest: 1,473
South: 763
West: 4,425
Median price asked for vacant for-sale houses in 2000: $66,800
Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities: 1%
Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities: 1%
Year Householders Moved Into Unit
Most commonly used house heating fuel in Gem County
Click here to upload your Gem County photos (outside city limits)
42.0 years
34.0 years
(49.5%)
(50.5%)
, Hancock County, Maine 
