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Canyon County, ID

RANK #191 / 1001 NAT  ·  POP 250,790

1YR FORECAST: -0.9%

5YR OUTLOOK: +33%

#38 Fastest Growing
Our model projects Canyon County's housing market to grow -0.9% over the next year, significantly outpacing the national average.

[01] Why Canyon County?

Canyon County, Idaho, distinguishes itself with its agricultural heritage, particularly its vineyards and hop farms, alongside significant historical sites like Celebration Park, Idaho's only archaeological park featuring ancient petroglyphs. Located in southwestern Idaho's Treasure Valley, the county is a short drive from Boise, offering a blend of rural and urban living. Commuting to Boise is common, with options including express bus services. The community provides access to outdoor recreation at Lake Lowell for boating and fishing, and numerous trails for hiking and birdwatching, including those within the Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge.

Life in Canyon County often appeals to families seeking a balance of community and access to nature. The economy is driven by its strong agricultural sector, including food processing, and a growing presence in manufacturing and logistics. Educational opportunities are available through public, private, and charter schools, as well as higher education institutions like the College of Idaho and Northwest Nazarene University. The county has seen population growth, with many new residents drawn by the lifestyle and employment trends.

MARKET PROFILE

Idiosyncratic Markets

Canyon County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +0.1% YoY, population +3.5%, wages +4.5%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.

See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →

[02] Market Snapshot

Housing Ratio
20.0x

Overvalued relative to economy

Home Prices
+0.1%

Well below national median

Climate & Terrain
1.8

Moderate climate & terrain

Price/Rent
20x

Above national median (15x)

Housing looks overvalued at 20.0x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.

[03] Top Employers

  1. 1
    Walmart Retail
    1,000+
  2. 2
    Nampa School District Education
  3. 3
    St. Alphonsus Health System Healthcare
  4. 4
    Vallivue School District Education
  5. 5
    St. Luke's Health System Healthcare
  6. 6
    College of Western Idaho Education
    500+
  7. 7
    Canyon County Government
  8. 8
    J.R. Simplot Agriculture
  9. 9
    Sorrento Lactalis Manufacturing
  10. 10
    City of Nampa Government

Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.

[04] Home Value Growth vs National

Canyon County U.S. National

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).

The Numbers

DEMOGRAPHICS
Population
250,790
+3.46% YoY
Median Household Income
$76,488
Median Home Value
$390,000
+0.09% 12mo
Median Rent
$1,347
Average Annual Pay
$54,215
+4.5% YoY
Employment
90,288
+1.8% YoY
Income-to-Home-Value
0.1961
Near national average
Migration Inflow
3.32%
of pop. from another state
Bachelor's Degree+
23.2%
of residents (national avg: 33%)

Market Activity

REAL ESTATE
Median Sale Price
$443,000
Days on Market
36
Active market
Months of Supply
1.9
Seller's market
Sale-to-List Ratio
99.3%
Near asking price
Sold Above List
19.8%
Listings w/ Price Drops
33.0%
Building Permits (2025)
3,929
Single-Family Permits
3,045

Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →

[05] Crime & Safety

B+
SAFETY
GRADE
Homicide Rate
2.5
per 100K · nat avg 6.3
Firearm Fatalities
14.9
per 100K · nat avg 14.8
Injury Deaths
71.5
per 100K · nat avg 76.3
vs National Average
Well below national avg
based on homicide rate

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 →

[06] Air Quality

B
AIR QUALITY
GRADE
Median AQI (3yr)
43.0
Good
Good Air Days
61%
666 of 1,093 days
Unhealthy+ Days (3yr)
17
Sensitive groups affected
Primary Pollutant
PM2.5
Fine particulate matter
Yearly Trend
2021
46
2022
49
2023
34
Median AQI · lower is better

Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →

[07] Capital Investment

$647M
TOTAL
PROJECT AMOUNT STATUS
Powers Butte Energy Center (Solar + Battery Storage)
Savion
$305M Proposed
Amazon Fulfillment Center (BOI2)
Amazon
$100M Operating
Happy Valley Battery Storage
Idaho Power
$82M Planned
Franklin Battery Storage
Idaho Power
$60M Planned
Amazon Same-Day Delivery Station (SID1)
Amazon
$50M Operating
Canyon County Public Safety & Elections Facilities (Combined)
Canyon County
$50M Under Construction/Planned

Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.

[08] Score Breakdown

Population Growth +3.5% 96 percentile
Income Growth +5.7% 94 percentile
Vacancy Rate 0.7% 79 percentile
Home Price Change +0.1% 27 percentile
Rent Growth +3.5% 61 percentile
Price/Rent 20x 16 percentile

Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.

[09] Frequently Asked Questions

Is Canyon County, ID a good place to move to?

Canyon County ranks #191 out of 1001 U.S. counties on the Boom Town Index with a score of 81/100, putting it in the top tier nationally. Job growth of +1.8% and a median household income of $76,488 point to a county with active economic momentum.

Is Canyon County affordable?

Canyon County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $390,000 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.20 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,347/month on average.

Is Canyon County growing or shrinking?

Canyon County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +3.5% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +1.8% clip. Home values shifted +0.1% in the past year.

Are people moving to Canyon County?

There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.32% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Canyon County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.

[10] Similar Counties by Size & Score

Twin Falls County, ID 70 Bannock County, ID 65 Kootenai County, ID 59 Bonneville County, ID 53 Bonner County, ID 36 Madison County, ID 35 Mohave County, AZ 81 Washington County, WI 81