The 5 Richest Counties in Idaho (and Who Lives There)

#1: Blaine County

The wealthiest county in Idaho is Blaine County. Located in the southcentral region, Blaine County’s median income is$71,749. But its average home price is even more telling, which is a whopping $862,566. This is nearly double the average home value for the state, which Zillow reports is $434,540.

The primary industry for Blaine County is tourism. In fact, the county is home to the major ski resort, Sun Valley. The resort, along with hiking trails, hot springs, wilderness areas, and natural lakes, has been attracting celebrities to the area for decades. 

Ernest Hemingway lived in Ketchum along the Big Wood River during his final years. Hemingway was buried in the Ketchum Cemetery. Other well-known figures to have vacation homes in Ketchum include Adam West and John Kerry. Demi Moore owns a home in Hailey while a number of famous people live in Sun Valley including Mark Zuckerberg and Aaron Paul. In fact, Sun Valley, Ketchum, and Hailey are rated in the top five most expensive mountain towns in the state. 

#2: Teton County

Second on our list of richest counties in Idaho is Teton County, with a median income of $75,837 and a median home value of $660,931. Teton County is located in eastern Idaho and shares a border with a county of the same name in Wyoming. Wyoming’s Teton County is one of the wealthiest counties in the country, and many residents on the Idaho side head over to the Wyoming side for work.

Teton County, with its county seat of Driggs, is known as the quieter side of the Tetons. It’s less touristy than Jackson, WY, and Grand Teton National Park. People skiing at Grand Targhee Resort or visiting the park can head to the Idaho side at the end of the day for a quieter atmosphere.

#3: Valley County

Third on our list, the rural community of Valley County is located in the west-central part of the state. Valley County’s median income is $67,528 with a median home value of $639,371. With a population of only 12,000 and a land area of nearly 3,700 square miles, Valley County is sparsely populated. The county was named for the Long Valley of the North Fork of the Payette River. It’s also home of the famous Bergdorf Hot Springs.

The largest city, McCall, is nestled in the mountains and is adjacent to Payette Lake. Known as a ski resort town, McCall is home to some luxurious estates that sit lakeside. Former hockey player, Wayne Gretzky, owns an opulent lakeside retreat in McCall.

#4: Ada County

Ada County has the largest population of the richest counties on our list. At over 500,000 it’s the most populous county in the state. Ada’s largest city and county seat is Boise. The median income of Ada County is $75,115, while the median home value is just under half a million. The largest employer in the county is St Luke’s Regional Medical Center with over 5,000 employees. One of the biggest celebrities to come from Boise is Academy Award actor, George Kennedy. 

#5: Kootenai County

Finally, on our list of richest counties is Kootenai County located in the northwest corner of the state. With a population of 179,789, Kootenai is the third most populous county in Idaho. It’s also the largest in the northern part of the state and accounts for nearly half of the region’s entire population. Kootenai’s median income is $64,936 and its median home value is $551,352.

Kootenai is 1,300 square miles and within that area are 360,000 acres of National Forest, 18 lakes, and 56 miles of navigable rivers. The main industries for the county are healthcare and retail. The largest city, Coeur d’Alene, is known for golf courses, water sports on Lake Coeur d’Alene, and numerous hiking trails. The resort city has become a tourist destination for celebrities. In fact, Kim Kardashian bought a $5 million vacation home in Harrison that overlooks the lake.