69 / 100

Canyon County, ID

Nampa

RANK #307 / 996 NAT  ·  POP 235,006

1YR FORECAST: +1.4%

5YR OUTLOOK: +29%

#29 Fastest Growing
Our model projects above-average housing market growth for Canyon County at +1.4% over the next year.

[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.

[02] Market Snapshot

Housing Ratio
8.1x

Overvalued relative to economy

GDP Growth
+5.3%

Well above national median

Home Prices
-0.1%

Prices declining

Climate & Terrain
1.8

Moderate climate & terrain

Price/Rent
16x

Above national median (13x)

Housing looks overvalued at 8.1x — 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

The Numbers

DEMOGRAPHICS
Population
235,006
+3.36% YoY
Median Household Income
$68,473
Median Home Value
$306,200
-0.06% 12mo
Median Rent
$1,138
Average Annual Pay
$51,903
+4.8% YoY
Employment
88,684
+3.6% YoY
Income-to-Home-Value
0.2236
Near national average
Migration Inflow
3.43%
of pop. from another state
Bachelor's Degree+
21.6%
of residents (national avg: 33%)

Market Activity

REAL ESTATE
Median Sale Price
$439,250
Days on Market
77
Slower market
Months of Supply
2.5
Seller's market
Sale-to-List Ratio
99.3%
Near asking price
Sold Above List
20.0%
Listings w/ Price Drops
24.9%
Building Permits (2024)
3,609
Single-Family Permits
3,253

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

GDP Growth +5.3% 85 percentile
Population Growth +3.4% 97 percentile
Income Growth +12.8% 97 percentile
Vacancy Rate 0.6% 88 percentile
Home Price Change -0.1% 30 percentile
Rent Growth +3.8% 64 percentile
Price/Rent 16x 24 percentile

Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.

[09] Frequently Asked Questions

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

With a Boom Town Index score of 69/100, Canyon County sits in the upper half of all 996 ranked counties. Employment is expanding at +3.6%, and median household income stands at $68,473 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in ID.

Is Canyon County affordable?

Canyon County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $306,200 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.22 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,138/month on average.

Is Canyon County growing or shrinking?

Canyon County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +3.4% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +3.6% clip. Home values shifted -0.1% in the past year.

Are people moving to Canyon County?

There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.43% 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

Madison County, ID 69 Bonneville County, ID 67 Kootenai County, ID 62 Twin Falls County, ID 78 Bannock County, ID 47 Ada County, ID 10 Greene County, OH 69 Berrien County, MI 70