City Report · ID

Mountain Home

Pop. 16,493·17th most expensive in Idaho·Mountain Home rents are up 6.5% over the past year
Median rent (all units)
$1,555/mo
Year-over-Year
+6.5%
Month-over-Month
+0.4%
vs US Median
-$377
Reported rents
Stable (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Mountain Home · $1,555
More affordable than 72% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Affordability
30% of income
MODERATE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,555/mo, rent takes about 30% of the local median household income, slightly above the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$62,000/yr
Local median income
$63,125/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Mountain Home's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$900
1 BR
$1,030
2 BR
$1,250
3 BR
$1,770
4 BR+
$2,070
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$1,250/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,555 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.

Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Past year vs. the rest of Idaho

Rent in Mountain Home changed +6.5% over the year to September 2026. Across the 18 Idaho cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.9%.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 4 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($63,125) is $1,578 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,250); a 3-bedroom is $1,770.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Mountain Home. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost
$18,660/yr
At $1,555/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Strong Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are up 6.5% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.
Based on rent-price momentum (+6.5% YoY, +0.4% MoM), not inventory.
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Demographics

Who lives here

Mountain Home, ID is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income below the national average, 22% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
16,493
Median income
$63,125
Median age
31.7
Renters
32.9%
Age distribution
25.1%
30%
21.2%
13.2%
Under 1825.1%
18–3430%
35–5421.2%
55–6410.4%
65+13.2%
Gender
51.9%
48.1%
Male51.9%
Female48.1%
Race & ethnicity
72.7%
17.4%
White72.7%
Black3.2%
Hispanic17.4%
Asian3.4%
Other3.3%
Education (25+)
32.3%
36.1%
22%
No HS diploma9.5%
HS diploma32.3%
Some college36.1%
Bachelor's+22%
Housing tenure
67.1%
32.9%
Owner67.1%
Renter32.9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Mountain Home, ID has changed in 5 years

Income
$45,652 → $63,125
up 38.3%
Population
15,863 → 16,493
up 4.0%
Renter share
38.9% → 32.9%
-6.0 pts
Bachelor's+
16% → 22%
+6.0 pts
Median age
30.7 → 31.7
+1.0 yrs

Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $45,652 in 2021 to $63,125 more recently. Census counts show Mountain Home, ID adding about 630 residents over the five-year window, up 4.0% on net. The renter share has eased from 38.9% to 32.9%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 16% to 22% across the same window.

Community

Discussions about Mountain Home

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View Mountain Home rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Mountain Home on your salary?

At $1,555/mo, how Mountain Home rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Mountain Home rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Mountain Home. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Mountain Home

About renting in Mountain Home, ID

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Mountain Home is $1,555/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $900/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,250/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,030/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,770/mo.

At 30% of local median household income ($63,125/yr), Mountain Home ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 6.5% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Mountain Home?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $62,000/year (about $30/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,555/mo in Mountain Home. The local median household income is $63,125/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Mountain Home?

Rent in Mountain Home has risen 6.5% over the past year.

How does Mountain Home rent compare to other cities in Idaho?

Mountain Home is one of the more affordable among Idaho cities for rent, ranking #17 of 23 tracked cities at $1,555/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Mountain Home changed +6.5%, against a typical +4.9% across the 18 Idaho cities Zillow tracks.
Income Affordability
30%
MODERATE

At $1,555/mo, rent takes ~30% of Mountain Home's median household income ($63,125/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Mountain Home 30%Benchmark 30%
State income tax5.8%
Run the Mountain Home affordability calculator →
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Mountain Home, ID

Recent submissions

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