Elmore County is located in southwestern Idaho, extending from the Boise metropolitan fringe southeast along the Interstate 84 corridor into the Mountain Home Plateau and surrounding high desert. Established in 1889 and named for Idaho territorial legislator John J. Elmore, the county developed around transportation routes and irrigated agriculture, later gaining a significant military presence with Mountain Home Air Force Base. Elmore County is mid-sized by Idaho standards, with a population of roughly 28,000–30,000 residents in the 2020s. The county’s landscape includes sagebrush steppe, buttes, reservoirs, and parts of the Snake River Plain, supporting farming, ranching, and outdoor recreation. Settlement is concentrated in and around the city of Mountain Home, while much of the county remains sparsely populated public land. Local culture reflects a blend of rural communities and military-related employment and services. The county seat is Mountain Home.
Elmore County Local Demographic Profile
Elmore County is located in southwestern Idaho, with Mountain Home as the county seat and the Mountain Home Air Force Base as a major regional presence. The county lies east-southeast of Boise in the Treasure Valley–adjacent region.
Population Size
According to the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for Elmore County, Idaho, the county had an estimated population of 29,749 (2023).
Age & Gender
Based on the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for Elmore County, Idaho (latest profile values shown on the page):
Age distribution (selected measures)
- Under age 18: 22.1%
- Age 65 and over: 12.1%
Gender
- Female persons: 44.8%
- Male persons: 55.2% (calculated as remainder from 100%)
Racial & Ethnic Composition
According to the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for Elmore County, Idaho (race and Hispanic origin measures shown on the page):
- White alone: 82.3%
- Black or African American alone: 3.7%
- American Indian and Alaska Native alone: 1.3%
- Asian alone: 2.0%
- Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone: 0.7%
- Two or more races: 9.1%
- Hispanic or Latino (of any race): 13.4%
Household & Housing Data
From the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for Elmore County, Idaho (latest profile values shown on the page):
Households
- Persons per household: 2.64
Housing
- Housing units: 12,333
- Owner-occupied housing unit rate: 64.7%
For local government and planning resources, visit the Elmore County official website.
Email Usage
Elmore County, Idaho combines rural areas with small population centers (including Mountain Home), so distance between households and limited last‑mile infrastructure can constrain digital communication options and reliance on email.
Direct county-level email usage statistics are not routinely published; email adoption is commonly inferred from proxy indicators such as household broadband subscriptions, computer ownership, and age structure reported by the U.S. Census Bureau (data.census.gov) and American Community Survey.
Digital access indicators
County profiles in U.S. Census Bureau tables provide measures of broadband subscriptions and computing device access; these indicators are closely associated with routine email use because email typically requires reliable internet access and a usable device.
Age distribution
ACS age distributions for Elmore County are relevant because email use tends to be highest among working-age adults and declines among older cohorts, while younger cohorts often substitute messaging platforms for email.
Gender distribution
Gender balance is available in ACS profiles, but it is generally a weaker predictor of email adoption than age and broadband access.
Connectivity limitations
Rural service gaps and provider availability constraints reflected in federal broadband resources (e.g., the FCC National Broadband Map) help explain uneven access across the county.
Mobile Phone Usage
Elmore County is in southwestern Idaho and includes the Mountain Home micropolitan area and extensive surrounding rural territory, including portions of the Snake River Plain and nearby uplands/foothills. Settlement is concentrated around Mountain Home and along major transportation corridors, while large areas are sparsely populated public or agricultural lands. This mix of small urbanized areas and wide rural expanses—along with varied terrain and long distances between cell sites—can produce strong in-town coverage but more variable service in outlying areas.
Data scope and key distinction (availability vs. adoption)
- Network availability describes where mobile providers report service (coverage) and what technologies (4G/5G) are deployed.
- Household adoption describes whether residents subscribe to and use mobile service or mobile broadband, including whether mobile is the primary way a household accesses the internet.
- County-specific, technology-by-household adoption metrics are limited. The most consistent sources are federal broadband availability datasets and survey-based adoption indicators that are often reported at state, metro, or tract levels rather than as a single countywide “mobile penetration” statistic.
Mobile penetration or access indicators (where available)
No single countywide “mobile penetration rate” is routinely published in an official U.S. statistical series for counties. Penetration is typically measured by carriers or industry analysts using proprietary subscriber data, or by surveys that may not be reported at the county level.
Household internet access and cellular-data-only indicators can be approximated using U.S. Census survey tables (generally from the American Community Survey). These tables include measures such as:
- Households with an internet subscription
- Households with cellular data plan only (no wired subscription)
- Device types used to access the internet (e.g., smartphone, tablet, desktop/laptop)
County-level estimates are available through Census tools that publish ACS results. Primary reference: American Community Survey (ACS) at Census.gov. For browsing tables and geographies: data.census.gov.
Limitation: ACS internet/device variables are survey-based with margins of error that can be sizable for smaller geographies; they describe households, not individual subscriptions, and do not directly report “4G vs. 5G use.”
Mobile internet usage patterns (4G, 5G availability)
Network availability (4G/5G coverage)
- 4G LTE is generally the baseline mobile broadband technology across Idaho’s populated corridors and towns; rural gaps are more likely in mountainous or sparsely populated areas where tower density is lower.
- 5G availability in Idaho is typically concentrated in and around higher-population centers and along major highways; in rural areas, 5G may be absent, intermittent, or limited to certain bands depending on provider deployments.
Public, map-based sources for reported mobile broadband availability include:
- The FCC National Broadband Map, which provides location-based availability and includes mobile broadband layers (provider-reported coverage and technology).
- Idaho’s statewide planning and mapping context via the Idaho Broadband Office (state broadband efforts and references to mapping and deployment programs).
Limitation: Mobile coverage in federal maps is provider-reported and model-based, and it can differ from on-the-ground experience (especially at the edge of coverage, indoors, or in terrain-shadowed areas). The FCC map is the most standardized public reference for availability, but it is not the same as measured performance at a given address.
Usage patterns (actual use of mobile internet)
- Public datasets typically describe internet adoption and device ownership/use rather than quantifying traffic shares or hours of mobile use at the county level.
- In rural counties, survey indicators often show a meaningful share of households using cellular data plans as their only internet subscription, reflecting limited wired options in some areas. The presence and magnitude of this pattern in Elmore County specifically is best derived from ACS tables on “cellular data plan only,” accessed through data.census.gov.
Limitation: This indicates subscription type (cellular-only vs. wired), not whether the household uses 4G or 5G.
Common device types (smartphones vs. other devices)
- Nationally and statewide, smartphones are the most common personal mobile device used for internet access, while tablets and laptops are also widely used. At the county level, ACS device questions can be used to characterize whether households access the internet through:
- Smartphone
- Tablet or other portable wireless computer
- Desktop/laptop
- These indicators are available in ACS “Computer and Internet Use” tables via data.census.gov and methodological documentation at Census.gov (ACS).
Limitation: ACS device measures describe whether a household has access via certain device categories, not the number of devices per person, brand/OS breakdown, or whether devices are used primarily on Wi‑Fi vs. cellular networks.
Demographic and geographic factors influencing mobile usage and connectivity
Geography, land use, and infrastructure
- Population concentration: Mountain Home and nearby developed areas tend to have denser cell infrastructure and more consistent service, while remote parts of the county can have larger coverage gaps or weaker indoor signal due to distance from towers.
- Terrain and vegetation: Changes in elevation and terrain features can obstruct line-of-sight radio propagation, affecting coverage consistency outside flatter areas. Rural tower placement is also influenced by backhaul availability and siting constraints.
- Transportation corridors: Coverage often tracks highways and major routes more closely than remote interior areas, reflecting provider deployment priorities and easier infrastructure access.
County context references:
- Elmore County official website (local government context and geography)
- Elmore County, Idaho (general geographic and demographic summary) (non-governmental compilation; useful for orientation)
Demographics and economic factors (adoption vs. availability)
- Income and affordability: Household adoption of mobile and home internet service is influenced by income, plan cost, and device replacement cycles. Survey-based adoption measures are typically captured through ACS household internet subscription tables (data.census.gov).
- Age distribution: Older populations often show different device and internet adoption patterns than younger populations in survey data (smartphone reliance vs. multi-device use). ACS provides age-linked demographic context, but device-by-age cross-tabs may be limited at county detail and may require careful table selection.
- Rurality and housing dispersion: Lower density increases per-user infrastructure costs, which can translate into fewer network upgrades (availability) and fewer competitive choices, affecting both adoption and service quality.
Summary: what can be stated reliably at the county level
- Availability: The best standardized public source distinguishing 4G/5G coverage and provider-reported mobile broadband availability in Elmore County is the FCC National Broadband Map; state context is summarized by the Idaho Broadband Office.
- Adoption/device access: The best public source for county-level indicators of household internet subscriptions (including “cellular data plan only”) and household device categories (including smartphones) is the U.S. Census data portal using ACS “Computer and Internet Use” tables.
- Limitations: Public, countywide statistics that directly quantify “mobile penetration” (subscriber counts per capita), “4G vs. 5G usage share,” or detailed smartphone vs. feature-phone ownership rates are generally not published as definitive official measures for Elmore County; where not available, the most defensible approach is to use FCC availability layers for coverage and ACS household survey tables for adoption and device access.
Social Media Trends
Elmore County is in southwestern Idaho along the Interstate 84 corridor, anchored by Mountain Home and the Mountain Home Air Force Base. The county’s population includes a mix of military-connected households, commuters, and rural communities, with local media and community information often circulating through regionally oriented Facebook groups and pages alongside broader national platform trends.
User statistics (penetration / active use)
- County-specific penetration rates are not published as a standard official statistic by major U.S. survey programs; most reliable measurements are available at the national level and are commonly used as benchmarks for rural counties in Idaho.
- Nationally, about 7 in 10 U.S. adults use at least one social media site according to Pew Research Center’s Social Media Fact Sheet. This provides the most-cited baseline for overall adult social media adoption.
- Device access that supports social use is widespread: the Pew Research Center mobile fact sheet reports high rates of smartphone ownership among U.S. adults, which strongly correlates with day-to-day social platform activity.
Age group trends (highest-use groups)
National age patterns are consistent and typically explain most local variation:
- 18–29: highest overall adoption across major platforms; heavy daily use and multi-platform behavior are common (Pew Research Center).
- 30–49: high overall usage, with notable reliance on Facebook and YouTube; Instagram also remains common in this band (Pew Research Center).
- 50–64 and 65+: lower adoption than younger adults, but Facebook and YouTube remain the most prevalent services among older cohorts (Pew Research Center).
Gender breakdown
- Major national surveys show platform-by-platform gender skews more than a uniform overall gap. In Pew reporting, women are more likely than men to use Pinterest, and women often show higher usage on some social apps, while men tend to be relatively more represented on certain discussion- or video/game-adjacent spaces (Pew Research Center platform tables).
- For Elmore County specifically, no authoritative, county-level gender-by-platform usage series is routinely published, so the most defensible characterization uses these national patterns as the reference point.
Most-used platforms (percent using, where available)
Percentages below reflect U.S. adults (commonly used as local proxies in the absence of county measurements), from Pew Research Center:
- YouTube: ~83%
- Facebook: ~68%
- Instagram: ~47%
- Pinterest: ~35%
- TikTok: ~33%
- LinkedIn: ~30%
- X (formerly Twitter): ~22%
- Snapchat: ~27%
- WhatsApp: ~29%
Locally, rural-county communication patterns typically concentrate on:
- Facebook for community groups, school/activity pages, local announcements, and buy/sell exchanges.
- YouTube for entertainment, tutorials, and news-adjacent content consumption.
- TikTok/Instagram for younger audiences and short-form video.
Behavioral trends (engagement patterns and preferences)
- Community-information use case: In smaller cities and unincorporated areas, Facebook groups and pages often function as a “local bulletin board” for events, weather impacts, road conditions, school updates, and recommendations, aligning with Facebook’s broad reach among adults (Pew platform reach).
- Short-form video growth: Nationally, TikTok use is concentrated among younger adults and features high-frequency, session-based consumption; this pattern increasingly influences content styles on Instagram (Reels) and YouTube (Shorts) as well (Pew Research Center).
- Passive vs. active use: YouTube’s high penetration reflects strong viewing behavior (passive consumption), while Facebook and Instagram combine passive feed browsing with active participation (comments, shares, group posts).
- Network utility and life-stage effects: LinkedIn use tends to track professional networking and education-related factors; in counties with sizable military-connected and commuting populations, professional-network presence can be visible but remains below entertainment and community platforms in overall reach (Pew platform reach).
Family & Associates Records
Elmore County family-related public records are maintained through county offices and Idaho state vital records systems. Birth and death certificates are Idaho vital records held by the Idaho Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics; county clerks generally do not issue certified copies. Marriage licenses and recorded marriage documents are handled locally through the Elmore County Recorder and marriage licensing functions through the Elmore County Clerk. Divorce and other family-court case files are created in the Fifth Judicial District; access to non-confidential case information is provided through the Idaho iCourt Portal (ICAR), with copies commonly available from the courthouse clerk’s office for the case.
Adoption records and many juvenile or child-protection matters are restricted and are not generally available as public records. Birth and death records in Idaho are typically subject to statutory access limits for a period after the event and are issued only to eligible requesters through the state vital records office.
Public databases include recorded-document indexes (Recorder) and statewide court docket access (ICAR). In-person access is available at the Elmore County courthouse offices for recorded documents and court file requests; certified vital records requests are processed through the state.
Marriage & Divorce Records
Record types maintained in Elmore County, Idaho
- Marriage licenses (and marriage certificates/returns): Marriage records originate as a county-issued marriage license and are completed by a marriage return (also referred to as a certificate) after the ceremony is performed and returned for recording.
- Divorce decrees and divorce case files: Divorce is a civil court action; the final Judgment and Decree of Divorce (or similarly titled final order) is part of the court record.
- Annulments: Annulments are also civil court actions. Records typically include a final Decree of Annulment and associated pleadings/orders within the court case file.
Where records are filed and how they are accessed
Marriage records
- Filed/recorded by: The Elmore County Clerk (county recorder function) issues marriage licenses and records completed marriage returns as part of the county’s vital records duties for marriages.
- Access points:
- Elmore County Clerk (Recorder/Vital Records): Primary local custodian for marriage license/record copies.
- Idaho Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics (state level): Maintains statewide marriage records and issues certified copies under Idaho’s vital records laws.
Link: Idaho Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics
Divorce and annulment records
- Filed by: The District Court in Elmore County. Elmore County is within Idaho’s Fourth Judicial District; the court maintains the official case file and final decrees.
- Access points:
- Elmore County District Court Clerk: Primary custodian for divorce and annulment case files and decrees.
- Idaho State Judiciary / iCourt Portal: Provides online access to many Idaho state court case registers and documents, subject to redaction rules and access limitations for confidential records.
Link: Idaho iCourt Portal
Typical information included in these records
Marriage licenses/records
Commonly recorded fields include:
- Full names of both parties (including maiden name where applicable)
- Date and place of marriage (county/city or venue information)
- Date the license was issued and the county issuing it
- Officiant’s name/title and signature; confirmation of solemnization
- Names of witnesses (where recorded)
- Ages or dates of birth and places of birth (often captured on the license application; what appears on recorded copies varies)
- Residential address at time of application (often captured on the application; may be subject to privacy handling)
Divorce decrees (final judgments) and case files
Commonly included:
- Parties’ names and case number
- Filing date and date of final decree
- Court and judge/magistrate identification
- Legal findings and orders dissolving the marriage
- Orders on property division, debts, and name restoration (when granted)
- Orders on custody, visitation, child support, spousal maintenance, and related enforcement terms (when applicable)
Annulment decrees and case files
Commonly included:
- Parties’ names and case number
- Legal grounds for annulment as pled and found by the court
- Date of decree and judicial officer identification
- Orders addressing property, support, custody, and related relief when applicable
Privacy and legal restrictions
- Marriage records: Certified copies are governed by Idaho vital records statutes and administrative rules. Access to certified marriage records is generally restricted to eligible requestors and requires identity verification; non-certified informational copies may be available depending on the custodian’s policy and applicable law.
- Divorce and annulment records: Court records are generally public in Idaho, but confidentiality rules and statutory protections limit access to certain categories of information and documents (for example, protected personal identifiers and some family-law-related records). Courts apply redaction requirements and may restrict particular filings, exhibits, or orders from public view.
- Identity and sensitive data protections: Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, addresses in protected cases, and other sensitive identifiers are typically subject to redaction or restricted access under court rules and privacy provisions.
- Certified vs. non-certified copies:
- Certified copies (used for legal purposes) are issued by the record custodian with a certification seal or attestation.
- Non-certified copies may be available for informational use, subject to access rules and redactions.
Practical notes on record maintenance
- Marriage records are maintained as recorded vital records at the county and state levels, with the county as the point of issuance and recording and the state maintaining a consolidated statewide file.
- Divorce and annulment records are maintained as case-based court records; the court clerk retains the official file and the final decree as part of the docketed case history, with public access mediated through courthouse records and the statewide court portal subject to confidentiality controls.
Education, Employment and Housing
Elmore County is in southwestern Idaho, extending from the Boise metropolitan fringe eastward across the Camas Prairie. The county seat is Mountain Home, and a major anchor institution is Mountain Home Air Force Base, which shapes local demographics (a sizable young-adult and family population, higher-than-average mobility) and the labor and housing markets. Recent population is roughly in the high‑20,000s to low‑30,000s based on U.S. Census Bureau estimates (exact year depends on the series used).
Education Indicators
Public school systems and schools
Elmore County’s K–12 public education is primarily served by:
- Mountain Home School District 193 (serving Mountain Home and nearby areas)
- Glenns Ferry Joint School District 192 (serving Glenns Ferry)
- Prairie Elementary District 191 (serving Prairie)
School lists vary over time due to grade reconfigurations and program sites. The most reliable current school rosters are published by the districts:
- Mountain Home School District 193 school directory (campus list): Mountain Home School District 193
- Glenns Ferry Joint School District 192: Glenns Ferry Joint School District 192
- Prairie Elementary District 191: Prairie Elementary District 191
A countywide count of “number of public schools” is not consistently published as a single figure across sources because reporting units vary (school sites vs. administrative schools vs. alternative programs). The Idaho State Department of Education provides authoritative school-level listings and accountability profiles:
Student–teacher ratios and graduation rates
- Student–teacher ratio (proxy): County-specific ratios are not always published as a single metric; ratios are typically reported at the district or school level. A practical proxy for staffing context is district/school report cards from the Idaho State Department of Education (links above) and federal school staffing datasets.
- Graduation rates: Idaho reports 4‑year adjusted cohort graduation rates at the school and district level. In Elmore County, graduation performance varies by high school and cohort; the most recent official figures are available in Idaho’s accountability/report card publications rather than a single county rollup.
Primary sources for the most recent graduation outcomes:
Adult educational attainment
Adult education levels are most consistently available from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) for Elmore County, Idaho:
- Shares commonly reported include high school graduate or higher and bachelor’s degree or higher for adults age 25+.
Authoritative county tables are available via: - U.S. Census Bureau data portal (data.census.gov) (search “Elmore County, Idaho educational attainment” and use the latest ACS 5‑year release)
Because Mountain Home AFB adds a large population of early‑career service members and young families, the county’s attainment distribution can differ from the Idaho statewide profile; ACS remains the standard benchmark.
Notable programs (STEM, CTE, AP)
Program availability is school- and district-specific. In Idaho, commonly documented offerings include:
- Career Technical Education (CTE) pathways aligned to state standards and regional workforce needs (trades, health, business, etc.)
- Advanced Placement (AP) and/or dual credit options (often through Idaho higher education partners)
- STEM-related coursework and extracurriculars (varies by campus)
Program documentation is typically found in district curriculum guides and school course catalogs:
- Mountain Home SD 193 academics/curriculum resources (district site sections vary by year)
School safety measures and counseling resources
Idaho districts generally publish:
- Safety plans, emergency procedures, visitor policies, and coordination with local law enforcement
- Student services pages covering school counseling, mental health supports, and referrals
The most current, district-specific safety and counseling resources are posted on the district websites listed above (often under “Student Services,” “Counseling,” “Safety,” or “Policies”). Countywide safety staffing levels are not typically released as a single consolidated statistic.
Employment and Economic Conditions
Unemployment rate (most recent)
The official benchmark is the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS), which provides monthly and annual unemployment rates for Elmore County:
Elmore County’s labor market is strongly influenced by:
- Federal employment associated with Mountain Home Air Force Base
- Regional commuting ties to Ada County (Boise area)
(An exact “most recent year” rate is LAUS-series dependent; BLS LAUS is the authoritative source for the latest published annual average.)
Major industries and employment sectors
Based on standard Census/ACS sector reporting and local economic structure, leading sectors typically include:
- Public administration (including defense-related employment)
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Retail trade
- Construction
- Accommodation and food services
- Transportation and warehousing (regional logistics/commuting dynamics)
- Agriculture in rural portions (more visible in land use than in large payroll totals)
Sector detail for the most recent ACS period is available from:
Common occupations and workforce breakdown
Occupational groups commonly prominent in county-level ACS profiles (shares vary year to year) include:
- Management, business, science, and arts
- Service occupations
- Sales and office
- Natural resources, construction, and maintenance
- Production, transportation, and material moving
- Military-specific employment is not fully represented in ACS occupation tables in the same way as civilian categories, but the base materially affects local demand and secondary employment.
County occupational distribution is published in ACS occupation tables:
Commuting patterns and mean commute time
Elmore County has a mix of:
- Local commuting within Mountain Home/Glenns Ferry and to the air base
- Out-of-county commuting, especially toward Ada County employment centers
The most consistent commute metrics come from ACS, including mean travel time to work and commuting mode (drive alone/carpool, etc.):
Local employment versus out-of-county work
ACS commuting-flow style metrics are limited in standard tables, but ACS does report place of work characteristics and journey-to-work summaries. For deeper commuting flow analysis, the U.S. Census Bureau’s LEHD/OnTheMap tools are commonly used:
Given proximity to Boise-area labor markets and the presence of a large federal installation, Elmore County typically shows a meaningful share of residents working outside the county alongside a substantial in-county employment base tied to government/defense and local services.
Housing and Real Estate
Homeownership rate and rental share
The standard measures are from the ACS (tenure: owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied). Elmore County’s tenure split reflects:
- Owner-occupied single-family housing in and around Mountain Home
- Rental demand influenced by military assignments and turnover
Authoritative tenure statistics:
Median property values and recent trends
Median home value (owner-occupied) and value distribution are provided by ACS. Recent Idaho trends included rapid appreciation during 2020–2022 followed by moderation; county-specific trend lines are best derived from:
- ACS median value time series (annual 1‑year not available for smaller geographies; 5‑year ACS is the common benchmark), and/or
- Local market reports (not uniformly standardized for a countywide statistic)
Primary source for median value:
Typical rent prices
ACS provides median gross rent and rent distributions. Median rent is influenced by:
- Rental inventory in Mountain Home
- Military-driven demand variability
- Limited large apartment stock relative to metro counties
Primary source:
Types of housing
Elmore County’s housing stock is generally characterized by:
- Single-family detached homes as the dominant type in Mountain Home and rural-residential areas
- Manufactured homes and smaller-lot subdivisions in some areas
- Apartments and small multifamily concentrated in Mountain Home
- Rural lots and agricultural-adjacent properties outside incorporated areas, with longer distances to services
Housing unit structure counts are available via ACS “units in structure” tables:
Neighborhood characteristics (proximity to schools/amenities)
- Mountain Home: most proximity to schools, retail, and services; most concentrated rental inventory; shortest in-county commutes.
- Glenns Ferry: smaller-town setting with local schools and services; some residents commute along I‑84 corridor.
- Rural areas/Camas Prairie: larger parcels and lower density; longer trips for schooling, healthcare, and shopping.
No single county dataset provides uniform “walkability” or proximity metrics; these characteristics are typically derived from municipal planning documents and local land-use patterns rather than standardized countywide indicators.
Property tax overview (average rate and typical homeowner cost)
Property taxes in Idaho are administered locally with state rules and vary by taxing district (schools, cities, highway districts, fire districts). County-level summaries are commonly reported by:
- Idaho State Tax Commission (property tax and levy information)
- Elmore County Assessor/Treasurer (billing and assessment details)
Key references:
- Idaho State Tax Commission (property tax information)
- Elmore County government (Assessor/Treasurer resources)
A single “average tax rate” is not uniform across the county because levy rates differ by location and bonded indebtedness. Typical homeowner costs are best represented by actual tax bills tied to assessed value and local levies; statewide reporting provides context, while the county offices provide parcel-specific amounts.