What it's like to live in Garden City
Garden City is a small city in Idaho with county unemployment below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, a highly educated workforce, and a growing population. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Garden City deals with home prices well above the national average, crime rates above the national average, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, and cold winters.
The good
- Low unemployment in the county
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Growing population
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- High home prices
- Crime above national average
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold winters
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How Garden City compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Garden City
Based on Garden City's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,646
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $52,920 a year
- 52% of Garden City renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$89,900
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $44,950
- Homes cost 6.4× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,323/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,323 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices run above average, with a median around $449,500. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $449,500 · 52% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
3.3% county unemployment
Unemployment in Ada County is 3.3%, a little below the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Ada County (county-wide)
Safety▲ 69% above US
557 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 1076/100k · Garden City Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 25% below US
20 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 19.5 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 18% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 88°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 27°F and snow a regular occurrence. It's a dry climate with limited rainfall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforceNear US average
39% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 39% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
3 public schools inside the boundary
There are 3 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16:1, close to the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument (90 miles away).
Bottom line
Garden City's strongest points are county unemployment below the national average and commutes that run shorter than most cities; the main tradeoffs are home prices well above the national average and crime rates above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,323/mo) equals 23% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit job seekers (county-wide unemployment is low), remote workers (18% of workers here already work from home), and people who want short commutes.
Other places near Garden City
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