LivabilityCalc
Find Your City
City Housing Verdict

Jerome, ID

Manageable

Your dollar goes further in Jerome, ID — everyday costs run about 19% below the national average (Cost Index: 81). Housing is especially affordable: the median home is valued at $214,900, well under the $303,400 US median. The local median household income of $65,343 tends to stretch further here than in most parts of the country.

Jerome looks comparatively manageable for household relocation, with 17% rent burden, 3.3x home-price-to-income, and a housing index of 71. Use the assumptions below to test whether your own budget still stays in the safe range.Data Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 · BEA RPP 2023 · Zillow ZHVI

Data Updated: March 2026
Housing Feasibility Verdict
Safe

Based on your household income, housing mode, local rent, home value, property tax, and mortgage assumptions for Jerome.

Monthly Housing
$900/mo
Lower of rent or buy scenario
Housing Burden
17%
Healthy
Residual Cash
$4,045/mo
After housing and debt · $1,348/person
Rent vs Buy
Buying can be tested
Main pressure: home prices
Assumptions
Housing Mode
Confidence: MediumHome source: ACSRent source: ACSBEA proxy: msaHousehold size: 3Down payment: 20%Fixed burden: 26%
Uses a URL fragment, so it does not create a separate indexed page.
Cost Index
81
Affordable
Based on housing costs · See methodology
Median Home Value
$214,900
Source: Census ACS
National: $303,400
Median Rent
$900/mo
Source: Census ACS
National: $1,348/mo
Household Income
$65,343
National: $78,538
Population
12,689
Purchasing Power
103
100 = national baseline

Cost of Living Breakdown

Each index uses 100 as the US national average. A score of 150 means 50% more expensive; 80 means 20% cheaper.

Housing Cost Index
71 / 100
29% below average
Rent Index
67 / 100
33% below average
Goods & Groceries
96 / 100
About the same as most US cities
Utilities
70 / 100
30% lower utility bills
Healthcare & Services
99 / 100
In line with national average
Overall Index
81
Affordable · 19% below average

Jerome Mortgage Calculator

Pre-filled with the local median home value of $214,900 and Idaho's property tax rate of 0.63%.

Household Housing Budget

Local median household income is shown only as a place-side affordability input. Personal salary, filing status, and take-home pay analysis belong in salary.city.

Local Household Income
$65,343
Census ACS place context
Rent Burden Estimate
17%
Typical annual rent / local household income
Home Price to Income
3.3x
Typical home value / local household income
Use this section to judge whether Jerome looks structurally manageable for a household budget. For a specific job offer, filing status, payroll taxes, or salary equivalence across cities, run the income-side decision in salary.city.

Property Tax in Jerome, ID

Est. Annual Property Tax
$1,354
Monthly Impact
$113
Added to your mortgage
Effective Rate
0.63%
National avg: ~1.00%

Idaho Place Tax Context

Tax TypeIdahoNational Avg
Property Tax Rate0.63%1.00%
Top Income Tax Rate5.8%~5.0%
State Sales Tax6.02%~5.0%

Compare Jerome to Another City

Compare place-side costs such as housing, rent, groceries, utilities, services, and tax context.

Cost of Living Comparison

Compare place-side housing, rent, goods, services, and utility pressure between cities.

Jerome, ID
81
67
Loading cities...
---
---

Cost Index Comparison (100 = National Avg)

Housing CostsNational Avg: 100
Jerome, ID: 71
Rent Prices
67

FAQ: Living in Jerome

Is Jerome, ID an affordable place to live?+

Yes — everyday expenses in Jerome run about 19% below the US average (Cost Index: 81). Housing is especially affordable: the median home is valued around $214,900, compared to the $303,400 national median. Monthly rent is typically around $900, versus $1,348 nationally.

How does Jerome fit a household housing budget?+

Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $900, while local median household income is $65,343. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 17% before utilities and other costs. For a specific job offer, filing status, or take-home pay scenario, use salary.city.

How much are taxes in Jerome, ID?+

Idaho has a progressive state income tax with a top rate of 5.8%. The effective property tax rate is 0.63%. On a home worth $214,900, that translates to roughly $1,354 per year in property taxes. Sales tax (state + local) averages around 6.02% on everyday purchases.

How much does it cost to rent in Jerome, ID?+

The typical monthly rent in Jerome is around $900. That's roughly 33% lower than the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $214,900, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.

How much does a house cost in Jerome, ID?+

The median home in Jerome is valued at $214,900. With 20% down and a 6.5% mortgage rate, you'd be looking at roughly $1,087/month for principal and interest alone — before property taxes and insurance. About 72% of residents here own their homes.

Are groceries and utilities expensive in Jerome?+

Grocery prices in Jerome are about average compared to the rest of the US (index: 96, where 100 is the national average). Utility bills (electricity, gas, water) are below average (index: 70). Overall, these everyday costs shouldn't cause major surprises if you're moving from another similarly-sized US city.

What is Jerome, ID like to live in?+

Jerome is a small town with a population of about 12,689. The median age of residents is 31, skewing younger — often a sign of a college town or fast-growing area. The local poverty rate is 15.22%, near the national average of 12.4%.

Lower-Pressure Alternatives in Idaho

If Jerome feels tight, start with these same-state cities that look easier on rent burden or buy-side pressure.

Higher-Pressure Comparisons in Idaho

Use these city pages when you want to compare Jerome against tougher same-state markets before deciding whether the current city is already a stretch.

LC
Reviewed by LivabilityCalc Research Team
Financial Data Analysts · Census & Economic Data Specialists
Data Sources & Methodology
  • Real Estate & Housing: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI, Smoothed & Seasonally Adjusted) and Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI). Structural fallback utilizes U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates.
  • Goods, Utilities & Services: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Metropolitan Area Regional Price Parities (MARPP), incorporating verified State Nonmetropolitan averages.
  • Mortgage Rates: Freddie Mac 30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Average in the United States (PMMS) via Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED).
  • Tax Context: State-level property, sales, and income-tax context used for place-side relocation planning. Personal take-home pay and offer analysis are handled by salary.city.
  • Index Methodology: Weighting matrix derived from Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Consumer Expenditure Surveys (CEX) distributional models. Baseline standardized at 100. (Read methodology details)
Last data update: March 2026 · Mortgage rates updated monthly