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Payette County, Idaho

USDA's soil survey flags shrink-swell clay on 4% of Payette County's mapped land and a shallow water table under basements on 9%, both below the national shares of 15% and 29%. 28.9% of the county is in drought on the October 13, 2026 Drought Monitor map.

FEMA's flood data list 3 flood losses here since 2016. 54% of homes were built before 1980, against 50% nationally; the median home dates from 1978.

Data as of October 13, 2026 · sources

4%

expansive clay: shrink-swell limits slab homes

9%

high water table: limits basements

29%

in drought, October 13, 2026

54%

of homes built before 1980

Soil under Payette County

Expansive clay (limits slab homes)3.8%
High water table (limits basements)9.3%
Septic fields very limited91.1%
Clay swell (LEP, by area)3.3%
High-swell land (LEP 6%+)4.2%
Mapped soil263,000 acres
Soil seriesShare hereSeries nationally: expansive clay
Haw12%n/a
Lolalita7%n/a
Lankbush7%n/a
Greenleaf6%n/a
Elijah6%n/a
Saralegui5%n/a
Gem County: 19%Canyon County: 1%Washington County: 33%Ada County: 20%Boise County: 3%Adams County: 9%Baker County: 47%Malheur County: 19%Payette County GemCanyonWashingtonAdaBoiseAdamsBakerMalheurPayette
Payette County (heavy outline) and nearby counties, shaded by expansive clay share.under 10%10-25%25-40%40-60%60%+

How we count · survey areas ID659 (2025-08-27)

What the numbers mean here

Rain over the 12 months to August 2026: 14.74 in, 1.80 in above the 1991-2020 average year of 12.94 in.

USDA rates 91% of the land very limited for septic absorption fields.

With shrink-swell clay on 4% and a shallow water table on 9% of the land, the soil survey points to neither problem across most of Payette County; conditions still vary lot by lot.

Drought

28.9% of the county is in drought (D1 or worse) on the October 13, 2026 map. Part of the county was in drought in 22 of the last 52 weeks; the most was 39.6% of its area, in 8 weeks, most recently on the July 14, 2026 map.

October 21, 2025Share of area in drought, weeklyOctober 13, 2026
Category, October 13, 2026Share of county
D0 abnormally dry or worse100%
D1 moderate drought or worse28.9%
D2 severe or worse0%
D3 extreme or worse0%
D4 exceptional0%

Flood losses since 2016

3 flood losses since 2016, $22,213 paid. The worst year was 2023, with 1.

YearFlood losses
20160
20171
20180
20191
20200
20210
20220
20231
20240
20250
2026 to date0

Rain

Average year, 1991-202012.94 in
12 months to August 202614.74 in (+1.80)
202513.96 in (+1.02)
Wettest year since 18951983: 21.76 in
Driest year since 18951949: 6.47 in
Days with 1 inch or more, normal at EMMETT 2 E (17 mi away)0.3

Homes

Housing units10,141
Median year built1978
Built before 198054%
Built 2000 or later25%
Owner-occupied75%
Median value, owner-occupied$341,800
Single-family detached74%

What repairs cost

Published ranges from cost guides, not quotes. More sources, and where they disagree.

WorkRangeSource
Foundation repair, US $2,200 to $8,200 Fixr, January 27, 2026
Pier-and-beam repair, US $2,000 to $15,000 Fixr, January 27, 2026
Foundation inspection, US $300 to $600 Fixr, January 31, 2025

Nearby counties

PlaceDistanceExpansive clayHigh water table
Gem County, ID 18 mi 19% 9%
Canyon County, ID 26 mi 1% 14%
Washington County, ID 31 mi 33% 3%
Ada County, ID 46 mi 20% 4%
Boise County, ID 52 mi 3% 2%
Adams County, ID 62 mi 9% 7%
Baker County, OR 67 mi 47% 7%
Malheur County, OR 70 mi 19% 4%

Sources: USDA SSURGO (August 27, 2025) · US Drought Monitor (October 13, 2026) · FEMA NFIP v3 (September 9, 2026) · NOAA (August 2026) · Census ACS 2020-2024. Methods · Data status