Bingham County Formal Eviction Rate 2020 Idaho Policy Institute: A Complete Guide to the Data and Its Meaning
The Bingham County formal eviction rate 2020 Idaho Policy Institute is a topic that has attracted attention from researchers, housing advocates, policymakers, landlords, and tenants seeking to understand the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Idaho’s housing market. During 2020, eviction trends changed dramatically across the United States due to court closures, eviction moratoriums, emergency rental assistance, and economic uncertainty. The Idaho Policy Institute (IPI), housed at Boise State University, conducted one of the state’s most comprehensive eviction studies using official court records supplied by the Idaho Supreme Court. These studies provide county-level information on eviction filings and formal evictions, allowing researchers and the public to compare housing stability across Idaho. This article explains the Bingham County formal eviction rate 2020 Idaho Policy Institute, how the data was collected, what it means, how Bingham County compares with the rest of Idaho, and why these statistics remain valuable for housing policy discussions today.
What Is the Idaho Policy Institute?
The Idaho Policy Institute (IPI) is a research organization based at Boise State University. It conducts nonpartisan research on issues affecting Idaho communities, including housing, economic development, workforce trends, and public policy.
Beginning in 2019, IPI launched its statewide eviction study to provide reliable data on eviction activity. The project uses court records rather than surveys, making it one of Idaho’s most accurate sources of eviction information.
Understanding the Bingham County Formal Eviction Rate 2020 Idaho Policy Institute
The Bingham County formal eviction rate 2020 Idaho Policy Institute refers to the percentage of renter households in Bingham County that received a formal court eviction judgment during 2020.
A formal eviction is different from an eviction filing.
- Eviction filing: A landlord files an eviction case in court.
- Formal eviction: The court rules in the landlord’s favor and orders the tenant’s removal.
Not every eviction filing results in a formal eviction because some cases are dismissed, settled, or resolved before judgment. This distinction is one of the most important aspects of the Idaho Policy Institute’s methodology.
How the Idaho Policy Institute Collected the Data
The eviction study follows a consistent research methodology.
Researchers:
- Obtained statewide eviction records from the Idaho Supreme Court.
- Removed duplicate filings involving the same household.
- Identified cases ending in formal eviction judgments.
- Combined court data with U.S. Census renter household estimates.
- Calculated county-level eviction filing rates and formal eviction rates.
Because the information comes directly from court records, it is generally considered one of the most reliable measures of formal evictions in Idaho.
Statewide Idaho Results for 2020
Although this article focuses on Bingham County, understanding statewide trends provides valuable context.
According to the Idaho Policy Institute:
- 1,893 renter households experienced an eviction filing.
- Approximately 1.0% of Idaho renter households had at least one filing.
- 1,127 renter households received formal eviction notices.
- The statewide formal eviction rate was approximately 0.6%.
- Formal evictions declined roughly 30% compared with 2019.
The decline was largely attributed to COVID-19-related policies and emergency assistance programs.
Bingham County During the Pandemic
Like many Idaho counties, Bingham County experienced unusual housing conditions during 2020.
Several factors influenced eviction activity:
- Temporary court closures.
- Federal eviction moratoriums.
- Emergency rental assistance.
- Expanded unemployment benefits.
- Economic disruption caused by COVID-19.
Unlike counties with larger urban populations, Bingham County has a diverse economy bolstered by agriculture, manufacturing, and employment associated with the Idaho National Laboratory region. This economic mix likely helped moderate housing pressures compared with those in harder-hit communities.
Why Formal Eviction Rates Matter
Formal eviction rates reveal more than the number of court cases.
They help researchers understand:
- Housing stability.
- Financial hardship.
- Rental market stress.
- Community economic health.
- Demand for affordable housing.
Because formal evictions require a court judgment, they represent completed legal actions rather than disputes that were settled beforehand.
Formal Eviction vs. Informal Eviction
An important limitation of eviction research is that not all tenants who lose housing appear in court records.
Formal Evictions
These include:
- Court filings
- Judicial hearings
- Legal judgments
- Official removal orders
These are measurable and appear in the Idaho Policy Institute database.
Informal Evictions
These include:
- Landlords asking tenants to leave without filing in court.
- Tenants moving voluntarily after receiving notices.
- Lease non-renewals.
- Rent increases forcing relocation.
Because these events often leave no court record, they are much harder to measure.
COVID-19’s Effect on Evictions
The year 2020 was unlike any previous housing year.
Several major events changed eviction patterns across Idaho:
Court Closures
Many eviction hearings were delayed during the early months of the pandemic.
CDC Eviction Moratorium
Federal protections temporarily limited many residential evictions for qualifying tenants.
Rental Assistance
Emergency rental assistance helped many households pay overdue rent before eviction cases proceeded.
Unemployment Benefits
Additional federal unemployment programs helped reduce immediate financial hardship for many renters.
Together, these factors contributed to lower-than-expected eviction numbers in 2020.
Comparing Bingham County With Other Idaho Counties
County eviction rates differ for many reasons, including:
- Population size.
- Housing availability.
- Employment opportunities.
- Median income.
- Rent levels.
- Local economic conditions.
Some smaller counties may show relatively high rates despite having only a small number of formal evictions because percentages can change significantly with fewer renter households. This is why IPI encourages reviewing both rates and raw counts together.
Why Researchers Use County-Level Eviction Data
County-level eviction statistics help decision-makers:
- Identify housing shortages.
- Target rental assistance.
- Monitor affordability trends.
- Evaluate policy effectiveness.
- Understand regional differences.
Without local data, statewide averages may hide important differences between counties.
Limitations of the Data
While the Idaho Policy Institute study is comprehensive, readers should be aware of several limitations.
The data:
- Measures only court-recorded formal evictions.
- Does not capture informal displacement.
- Cannot explain every reason behind an eviction.
- Reflects conditions during the unusual COVID-19 pandemic.
These limitations are common in eviction research across the United States.
Why the 2020 Data Is Still Important
Although several years have passed, researchers continue using 2020 eviction statistics because they document how public policy affected housing stability during an unprecedented national emergency.
The Idaho Policy Institute’s research serves as a benchmark for comparing:
- Pre-pandemic eviction levels.
- Pandemic housing protections.
- Post-pandemic recovery.
- Long-term housing affordability.
Its consistent methodology also allows meaningful year-to-year comparisons.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Bingham County formal eviction rate 2020 Idaho Policy Institute?
It refers to the percentage of renter households in Bingham County that received a formal court eviction judgment during 2020, as measured by the Idaho Policy Institute.
Who publishes the eviction study?
The Idaho Policy Institute at Boise State University publishes the annual Idaho Eviction Study.
What is a formal eviction?
A formal eviction occurs when a court rules in the landlord’s favor and issues a judgment requiring the tenant to vacate.
Why were eviction rates lower in 2020?
Court closures, eviction moratoriums, emergency rental assistance, and pandemic-related economic policies all contributed to fewer formal evictions.
Where does the Idaho Policy Institute obtain its data?
The institute uses official eviction court records from the Idaho Supreme Court, together with U.S. Census renter household estimates.
Conclusion
The Bingham County formal eviction rate 2020 Idaho Policy Institute provides valuable insight into how the COVID-19 pandemic affected housing stability in southeastern Idaho. By distinguishing between eviction filings and formal court-ordered evictions, the Idaho Policy Institute offers one of the state’s most reliable sources of eviction information.
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