Ada County
ID · Pop. 508,052 · Mixed County
Ada County sits in Idaho across 1,052 square miles, home to 508,052 people at 482.9 per square mile, a more developed setting where truly rural parcels are scarcer. The agricultural economy is rated moderate, built on hay, wheat, corn. The median home price is $476,000, with an effective property tax rate of 0.56%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 7a with a 166-day growing season, average summer highs of 87.4°F and average winter lows of 25.7°F. Annual rainfall averages 11.7 inches, generally adequate for the region's crops and pasture. Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center is 11.2 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 99.4% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, wildfire risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A low effective property tax rate of 0.56% holds annual carrying costs down.
- Broadband reaches 99.4% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center, with an emergency room, is just 11.2 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
- A low unemployment rate of 3.3% reflects a stable local job base.
- A low poverty rate of 8.5% signals a relatively stable local economy.
Cons
- Wildfire risk is very high, requiring defensible space, fire-resistant construction, and an evacuation plan.
- Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
- Annual rainfall of just 11.7 inches means irrigation and water storage are core requirements.
- A median home price of $476,000 raises the cost of entry relative to more affordable rural markets.
- At 482.9 people per square mile, this is a developed area where finding truly rural acreage is harder and pricier.
At a glance
Ada County, ID is a challenging place to homestead on the data.
- Homestead score
- 23/100
- Median home price
- $476k
- Property tax
- 0.56%
- Growing season
- 166 days (zone 7a)
- Annual rainfall
- 11.7"
- Broadband
- 99.4%
- Nearest hospital
- Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center, 11.2 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Ada County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Ada County?
- Ada County is in USDA hardiness zone 7a with a 166-day growing season, average summer highs of 87.4°F, and average winter lows of 25.7°F. The established crops are hay, wheat, corn.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $476,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.56%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 99.4% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center is 11.2 miles away and includes an emergency room; there are 12 hospitals in the county.
Explore Idaho Resources
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LandWatch
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Lands of America
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AcreTrader
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More counties in Idaho
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The closest counties to Ada County by distance, including across state lines.
Data sources
Verified
Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.
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