Ada County, Idaho

County Distress Index: Healthy · 32.1 | 524,673 people · 38th most distressed in Idaho
American Default Research

Behind on your mortgage or facing eviction? Take a 2-minute assessment to see your options.

Ada County, ID ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 32.1 — 2795th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where a large share of households spend more than 30% of income on housing. Within Idaho, it ranks 38th of 44 counties. It scores lower than all 5 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five domains of financial distress. Ada County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 68.9 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 68.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 80
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 63
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 79
Homeownership Rate 65
Rent-to-Income Ratio 58
Employment & Wages 35.4
Unemployment Rate 27
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 72
Business Formation Rate 8
Debt & Delinquency 25.8
Debt in Collections 15
Medical Debt 34
Student Loan Delinquency 20
Auto Loan Delinquency 27
Credit Card Delinquency 14
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 45
Community Vulnerability 23.9
Uninsured Rate 37
Disability Rate 11
Income & Poverty 6.5
Poverty Rate 7
Income vs. State Median 9
Child Poverty Rate 4

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed. The median line is shown on each bar.

Neighbors and Peers

How Ada County compares to its 5 neighboring counties and population peers.

Neighboring Counties

County Score Zone vs. Ada County
Ada County, ID 32.1 Healthy —
Owyhee County, ID 58.1 Elevated +26.1
Elmore County, ID 52.7 Elevated +20.6
Canyon County, ID 51.1 Elevated +19.0
Gem County, ID 45.1 Normal +13.0
Boise County, ID 41.4 Normal +9.3

Population Peers

County Score Zone vs. Ada County
Union County, NC 31.9 Healthy -0.2
Ottawa County, MI 31.8 Healthy -0.3
Dane County, WI 31.7 Healthy -0.3
Anoka County, MN 32.5 Healthy +0.4
Utah County, UT 32.5 Healthy +0.4

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Ada County as a CSV file.

Find Help in Ada County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Ada County.

DEBT REDUCTION SERVICES, INC. DBA MONEY FIT
Boise
877-688-3328
Financial CounselingFinancial CounselingFair HousingPost-Purchase
IDAHO HOUSING AND FINANCE ASSOCIATION
BOISE
877-695-2655 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingHome Improvement/Rehab
IDAHO HOUSING AND FINANCE ASSOCIATION
Boise
877-695-2655 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingHomeless/DisplacementPost-Purchase
JESSE TREE
Boise
209-383-9486 Website
Financial CounselingFair HousingHomeless/DisplacementRental Help
NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICES INC DBA NEIGHBORWORKS BOISE
Boise
208-343-4065
Foreclosure PreventionPre-PurchaseHomebuyer EducationRental Help

See all counselors in Idaho →

Find an Attorney

Idaho State Bar Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

Idaho State Bar Lawyer Referral Service 208-334-4500

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Ada County residents at no cost.

Idaho Legal Aid Services, Inc. 208-336-8980
Idaho Volunteer Lawyers Program 208-334-4500

American Default Research does not endorse, rate, or rank any provider. Verify attorney credentials with your state bar.

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in Idaho →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Ada County, Idaho?

    Ada County has a County Distress Index score of 32.1 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,795th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 38th in Idaho out of 44 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Ada County?

    The primary driver of distress in Ada County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 68.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Ada County compare to neighboring counties?

    Ada County (32.1) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Owyhee County, ID (58.1); Elmore County, ID (52.7); Canyon County, ID (51.1).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses percentile-rank averaging across five domains: Debt & Delinquency, Income & Poverty, Housing Cost Burden, Employment & Wages, and Community Vulnerability. Each county's indicators are ranked against all 3,144 U.S. counties. A score of 50 means the county is at the national median; higher scores indicate greater distress.

  • What is the population of Ada County?

    Ada County, Idaho has a population of approximately 524,673 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.