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Garden City, ID

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Garden City, ID

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Demographics

Predominantly WhiteSimpson's Diversity Index: 29
Population12,483
Foreign Born1.3%
Population Density3,059people per mi²
Median Age44.0 yrs
Demographics Trajectory
GrowingSince 2010, this city's population has grown with relatively minor shifts in racial composition.
Current Race / Ethnicity Breakdown
Population Trends

Quality of Life

Overall Quality Of Life
B
Good

Above-average quality of iife. The area offers a reasonable cost of living, decent mobility, and a mix of neighborhood amenities.

Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.

Cost of Living

121/100

21% above national average

A-

The Real Cost of Living in Garden City, Idaho

TierIndividualFamily (4)
Survival $19k$36k
Comfortable $80k$117k
Luxury $121k+$187k+
Elite (Top 5%) $174k+$269k+
Affordability Ratio

57%

The Hood Index™

A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.

A
Hood Index scan area
Luxury Lean84%
RisksNeutralGrowth
Premium
40
Positive
40
Poor
6
Negative
15

Groceries

5 within 10 miles

1.8mi

Gas

0 within 10 miles

Hospital

3 within 20 miles

1.1mi

Airport

Jackson Jet Center

3.6mi

Post Office

USPS — Meridian, ID

7.7mi

Critical Amenities

Golf9Nearest 1.6 mi
Camping20Nearest 9.1 mi
Marina1Nearest 8.4 mi
Winery0 
Ice Rink0Nearest 89.3 mi
Gun Range6Nearest 3.6 mi

Affluence Level

Overall Affluence Grade
C+
Average

A middle-class area roughly in line with national averages across income, home values, education, and employment.

Median HHI
$67k+8.6%
11% below US avg
Est. Avg Net Worth
$785k
20% above US avg
College Educated
38.4%
10% above US avg
WFH
18.4%
29% above US avg
Homeownership
65.7%
Equal to US avg
Median Home
$411k
46% above US avg

Crime

Overall Crime Grade
B+
Safe

Generally safer than 69% of comparable U.S. locations.

Crime Rate
16.1
Incidents per 1,000 residents
5yr Trend
−38.5%
Overall crime change since 2020

Violent Crime

5yr−32.2%
Homicide
0.00 / 1k Residents100% below state avg
Robbery
0.08 / 1k Residents36% above state avg
Aggravated Assault
4.58 / 1k Residents176% above state avg

Property Crime

5yr−44.9%
Burglary
1.76 / 1k Residents100% above state avg
Larceny-Theft
7.48 / 1k Residents64% above state avg
Motor Vehicle Theft
1.37 / 1k Residents166% above state avg
Source: FBI Crime Data · 2025

Political Climate

Cook PVI: R+13Leans Conservative

District shown is the primary district for this city’s centroid. Cities may span multiple districts.

Presidential Voting Trends for Garden City, Idaho
Dem Rep
20%30%40%50%60%70%2000200420082012201620202024

Personal Sovereignty

Personal Sovereignty measures your capacity for self-reliance and independence with minimal government friction. Higher scores mean fewer barriers between you and the way you want to live... but it assumes you have the space you need and good neighbors.

Overall Sovereignty Grade
C+
Moderate

Moderate friction. Expect trade-offs in some aspect of personal liberty and independence.

State Policy

Tax Burden
C-
Weak10.7% of income
Property Rights
C+
FairIJ Grade C+
Firearm Rights
A-
GreatFPC Grade A-
Homeschooling
A+
GreatNo notice required

Energy independence: Importer (25% of energy produced in-state)

Personal Liberty

Raw Milk
A+
Fully OpenRetail sales legal
Gambling Laws
F
ProhibitedTribal · Poker · Betting
Marijuana Laws
F
ProhibitedIllegal

Homesteading

Growing Season193 days254 frost-free
Annual Rainfall14.0"
Elevation2,667 ft

Strategic Assessment

Strategic Assessment grades tactical survivability using Joel Skousen's Strategic Relocation framework. Major population centers, blast zones, natural disasters, and border exposure all drive risk — lower exposure means a more defensible position in a crisis.

Learn more about Strategic Relocation ($)
Overall Strategic Grade
C+
Exposed

Meaningful friction. Expect exposure to either population pressure, blast zones, or natural disaster risk. Consider buying a retreat property.

Strategic Pillars

City Proximity
A+
Great670 mi to nearest major city
Pop. Density
D-
Poor3,059/sq mi
Fallout Danger
F
Poor8 within ~30 mi
Natural Disaster
F
PoorInland Flooding
Border / Coast
A+
Greatborder 371 mi · coast 395 mi
FEMA Expected Loss$115.6M/yrfor the county

Key Distances

Nearest Major CityReno264k people are 338 mi away
Nearest Major AirportNo hub airport within 50 mi
Distance to State Capital1.9 miBoise, ID
Nearest Prison0.5 mi10 within 25 mi

* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-19T06:40:34.000Z

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