RANK #470 / 1001 NAT · POP 129,523
1YR FORECAST: -0.9%
5YR OUTLOOK: +29%
The city of Idaho Falls, the county seat and largest city in Bonneville County, is known for its scenic River Walk along the Snake River, featuring waterfalls created by a hydroelectric dam. Located in eastern Idaho, Bonneville County is approximately 45 miles west of Irwin and 28 miles west of Rexburg. The community offers a blend of urban amenities in Idaho Falls and access to extensive natural landscapes, including mountains less than an hour away. Outdoor recreation is a significant draw, with opportunities for boating, camping, fishing, and snowmobiling, particularly around the Ririe Reservoir. Life in Bonneville County appeals to families and young professionals, with a high homeownership rate. Public schools in the county are generally above average, including institutions like White Pine Charter School and Alturas Preparatory Academy. The local economy is experiencing growth, particularly in sectors like construction, business, and financial services. Major investments are also flowing into data centers and energy generation projects, with the Idaho National Laboratory being a key driver of economic activity and higher per capita income compared to the state average.
Bonneville County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +0.4% YoY, population +1.9%, wages +3.6%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Well below national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Prices detached from rents
Housing looks overvalued at 14.7x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Deep Atomic INL Data Center
Deep Atomic
|
$600M | Planned |
|
Arco Wind and Solar Project
Berkshire Hathaway (owner), PacifiCorp (operator)
|
$359M | Planned |
|
Amazon Delivery Station (W1D1)
Amazon
|
$50M | Operating |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Bonneville County scores 53/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 1001 U.S. counties (#470). Median household income is $79,068 and job growth is running at +3.8%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
Bonneville County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $368,800 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.21 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,133/month on average.
Bonneville County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +1.9% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +3.8% clip. Home values shifted +0.4% in the past year.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.43% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Bonneville County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.