State Guide

Best Places to Live in Idaho

The most affordable, safest, and highest-income cities across 237 Idaho cities — ranked from official data.

Compare any two ID cities:
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Choosing where to live in Idaho comes down to a few trade-offs — cost of living, safety, income, and schools. The rankings below pull those out from U.S. Census, FBI, and NCES data so you can see the standouts at a glance, then drill into any city or put two side by side.

Most Affordable Cities in Idaho

Lowest cost of living index (100 = U.S. average · lower is cheaper).

#City Cost of Living Population
1 Idaho Falls 90 65,685
2 Boise City 93 234,192
3 Meridian 93 119,872
4 Nampa 93 102,598
5 Caldwell 93 61,212

Safest Cities in Idaho

Lowest crime index (100 = U.S. average · lower is safer). Limited to cities with complete FBI reporting.

#City Crime Index Population
1 Meridian 34 119,872
2 Coeur d'Alene 56 54,599
3 Boise City 68 234,192
4 Nampa 70 102,598
5 Idaho Falls 79 65,685
6 Pocatello 84 56,582
7 Twin Falls 87 52,315
8 Caldwell 90 61,212

Highest-Income Cities in Idaho

Highest median household income (US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates).

#City Median Income Population
1 Meridian $93,296 119,872
2 Boise City $76,402 234,192
3 Nampa $67,346 102,598
4 Idaho Falls $66,463 65,685
5 Coeur d'Alene $65,786 54,599
6 Caldwell $65,259 61,212
7 Twin Falls $58,024 52,315
8 Pocatello $56,115 56,582

Best School Districts in Idaho

Highest school-quality grade (student-teacher ratio, adult attainment, and graduation data where available).

#City School Grade Population
1 Boise City B+ 234,192
2 Meridian B 119,872
3 Pocatello B- 56,582
4 Coeur d'Alene B- 54,599
5 Idaho Falls B- 65,685
6 Twin Falls C+ 52,315
7 Nampa C+ 102,598
8 Caldwell C 61,212

All Cities in Idaho

Click any city for the full profile. Data from U.S. Census Bureau (ACS 5-Year Estimates).

City Population Median Income Median Home Median Rent Unemployment Crime Index
Boise City 234,192 $76,402 $401,800 $1,223 3.8% 68
Meridian 119,872 $93,296 $425,800 $1,548 2.7% 34
Nampa 102,598 $67,346 $289,400 $1,201 3.0% 70
Idaho Falls 65,685 $66,463 $266,800 $931 4.8% 79
Caldwell 61,212 $65,259 $284,000 $1,012 5.1% 90
Pocatello 56,582 $56,115 $206,200 $790 5.4% 84
Coeur d'Alene 54,599 $65,786 $384,700 $1,212 2.0% 56
Twin Falls 52,315 $58,024 $243,700 $952 3.1% 87
Post Falls 40,002 $71,042 $368,600 $1,186 3.3% 36
Rexburg 38,803 $46,286 $333,400 $900 7.8% 21
Lewiston 34,270 $63,109 $259,800 $890 3.2% 55
Eagle 30,635 $114,271 $637,600 $1,754 1.5% 25
Moscow 25,616 $53,679 $311,200 $868 6.4% 22
Kuna 24,845 $83,960 $358,000 $1,630 2.1% 25
Ammon 17,921 $76,471 $295,100 $1,113 3.1% 71
Mountain Home 16,026 $53,108 $223,600 $997 6.0% 42
Hayden 15,703 $72,227 $382,300 $1,398 3.7% 50
Chubbuck 15,638 $69,992 $287,800 $931 3.9% 93
Jerome 12,482 $59,656 $192,000 $862 3.6% 31
Blackfoot 12,349 $57,951 $213,400 $767 8.9% 63
Garden City 12,301 $61,548 $363,000 $1,132 3.5% 131
Star 11,971 $88,625 $449,700 $1,246 7.3% 25
Burley 11,506 $58,889 $173,900 $871 3.7% 40
Middleton 9,614 $68,947 $289,900 $1,060 2.5% 32
Rathdrum 9,556 $80,934 $330,400 $1,189 4.6% 26
Hailey 9,238 $77,035 $423,700 $1,095 3.2% 37
Sandpoint 8,899 $60,208 $410,200 $1,039 2.7% 33
Payette 8,182 $51,477 $174,500 $792 7.2% 66
Emmett 7,694 $54,575 $228,100 $804 0.3% 62
Fruitland 6,169 $64,167 $239,500 $939 3.0% 26
Rupert 6,066 $53,348 $157,100 $756 2.9% 115
Weiser 5,678 $41,491 $172,200 $852 5.8% 21
Preston 5,668 $51,914 $246,100 $764 0.6% 17
Rigby 5,097 $73,807 $236,500 $915 2.2% 50
Shelley 4,878 $64,783 $231,300 $1,006 9.4% 50
Kimberly 4,696 $72,063 $271,900 $979 0.6% 15
Buhl 4,577 $51,307 $166,600 $628 4.0% 20
American Falls 4,573 $55,465 $169,700 $693 7.8% 48
McCall 3,731 $57,788 $507,500 $968 1.6% 73
St. Anthony 3,730 $44,313 $170,700 $688 8.1% 35
Gooding 3,673 $42,470 $136,600 $829 10.3% 80
Heyburn 3,640 $61,443 $166,200 $958 4.1% 67
Lincoln 3,638 $77,623 $223,400 $1,118 5.7% 71
Hidden Springs 3,584 $152,328 $667,100 $1,917 1.6% 25
Ketchum 3,490 $87,478 $562,500 $1,370 0.9% 34
Grangeville 3,369 $47,572 $220,000 $787 3.5% 18
Orofino 3,251 $51,518 $202,700 $930 3.7% 66
Mountain Home AFB 3,184 $60,764 $1,546 9.5% 44
Salmon 3,147 $45,130 $170,900 $706 6.2% 22
Soda Springs 3,124 $44,301 $194,300 $693 2.5% 11
Homedale 2,926 $50,125 $141,300 $885 4.0% 102
Wendell 2,900 $46,875 $200,200 $827 2.1% 46
Victor 2,876 $70,923 $503,200 $1,046 0.0% 28
Filer 2,766 $48,559 $195,300 $1,012 3.3% 28
Iona 2,746 $87,619 $310,400 $1,219 1.9% 71
Montpelier 2,649 $50,668 $158,000 $610 7.3% 7
Aberdeen 2,611 $62,944 $140,200 $604 9.2% 36
Fort Hall 2,608 $37,786 $160,600 $503 12.3% 79
Bonners Ferry 2,558 $46,667 $199,500 $841 0.9% 47
Bellevue 2,554 $70,089 $413,400 $1,083 2.5% 39
Driggs 2,548 $86,587 $405,400 $1,067 0.7% 28
Dalton Gardens 2,510 $87,902 $581,700 $835 2.4% 50
St. Maries 2,410 $47,564 $188,200 $775 5.3% 51
Spirit Lake 2,375 $61,625 $332,700 $1,071 3.8% 51
Kellogg 2,294 $38,316 $147,400 $913 14.5% 54
Malad City 2,219 $68,594 $197,600 $825 0.4% 50
Priest River 2,170 $49,868 $235,800 $696 1.0% 24
Sugar City 2,055 $56,439 $270,600 $1,164 4.4% 27
Pinehurst 1,993 $52,109 $207,800 $894 4.0% 14
Parma 1,937 $48,702 $194,000 $943 7.2% 52
Shoshone 1,687 $44,375 $161,300 $831 8.6% 61
Wilder 1,672 $54,375 $169,500 $740 0.7% 75
New Plymouth 1,645 $57,250 $182,900 $873 8.0% 55
Ucon 1,631 $81,771 $273,600 $906 5.1% 71
Osburn 1,625 $41,833 $155,900 $716 3.7% 50
Tyhee 1,469 $90,677 $391,500 $1,007 9.6% 79
Hansen 1,462 $41,625 $137,900 $732 0.5% 70
Grace 1,413 $69,858 $158,800 $625 2.6% 16
Sun Valley 1,383 $67,386 $921,300 $2,162 0.0% 18
Ashton 1,367 $62,819 $171,600 $781 8.8% 25
Moreland 1,343 $56,391 $240,400 0.0% 36
Paul 1,334 $59,853 $221,100 $721 1.6% 68
Glenns Ferry 1,327 $36,413 $139,400 $618 2.4% 44
Avimor 1,314 $106,447 $490,600 10.3% 25
Lapwai 1,310 $58,558 $110,100 $924 9.6% 51
Moyie Springs 1,293 $59,096 $322,800 $685 6.3% 45
Carey 1,244 $50,000 $174,600 $1,034 4.6% 40
Marsing 1,244 $55,192 $193,800 $608 2.1%
Cottonwood 1,243 $55,147 $163,200 $844 10.9% 46
Robie Creek 1,237 $117,422 $492,000 0.0% 64
Kamiah 1,210 $34,803 $193,200 $552 6.1% 15
Genesee 1,209 $77,266 $248,400 $1,250 2.5% 30
Ponderay 1,208 $42,670 $355,600 $899 6.0% 16
Hagerman 1,198 $66,250 $150,800 $954 2.0% 36
Cascade 1,197 $48,700 $320,800 $1,010 4.7% 75
Groveland 1,190 $54,115 $250,000 $1,170 4.0% 36
Plummer 1,158 $50,227 $145,700 $926 4.3% 39
Kootenai 1,152 $68,750 $287,200 $1,568 4.7% 31
Hazelton 1,094 $44,468 $142,800 $633 7.2% 47
Wallace 1,083 $49,052 $162,900 $726 3.5% 74
Riverside 1,074 $94,583 $200,900 0.0% 36
McCammon 1,017 $74,583 $217,200 $803 5.1% 79
Greenleaf 995 $56,289 $270,700 $1,504 6.0% 78
Clark Fork 963 $47,411 $157,800 $1,080 12.9% 31
Inkom 954 $68,594 $223,800 $1,131 3.7% 79
Troy 945 $74,444 $259,700 $905 4.9% 30
Hauser 935 $54,875 $277,400 $1,094 3.7% 50
Teton 909 $57,083 $219,000 $883 4.8% 25
Potlatch 876 $58,125 $226,900 $870 9.4% 30
Franklin 856 $58,370 $298,100 $1,021 0.2% 12
Challis 840 $35,921 $181,600 $592 1.3% 154
Downey 806 $43,125 $125,000 $862 0.6% 79
Ririe 802 $61,591 $112,500 $1,000 0.0% 23
Oakley 795 $77,500 $203,000 $767 1.7% 40
Horseshoe Bend 794 $50,809 $171,300 $784 1.0% 64
Athol 790 $48,500 $232,400 $850 0.7% 50
Arbon Valley 784 $57,841 $140,900 12.4% 46
Hayden Lake 770 $111,094 $703,000 $1,977 2.3% 50
Menan 759 $68,750 $214,900 $1,096 5.3% 23
Georgetown 757 $70,417 $157,600 $1,018 5.5% 7
Arco 749 $35,585 $149,500 $527 0.0% 34
Clifton 735 $96,750 $240,000 $763 2.4% 12
Smelterville 728 $46,078 $107,600 $805 0.0% 74
Paris 727 $76,750 $192,600 $868 3.2% 7
Dover 720 $90,875 $622,700 $1,625 2.1% 31
Mullan 692 $56,250 $156,700 $1,000 3.9% 74
Idaho City 673 $42,361 $95,600 $729 6.0% 64
Parker 661 $72,000 $231,400 10.7% 25
Council 655 $42,222 $145,800 $790 15.9% 69
Notus 633 $73,250 $220,500 $1,051 7.3% 78
Kooskia 608 $37,292 $152,300 $675 4.5% 46
Melba 602 $42,147 $188,600 $861 1.2% 78
Mackay 587 $39,848 $167,800 $967 0.0% 71
Juliaetta 585 $54,135 $241,800 $1,044 0.0% 30
Silverton 576 $93,576 $260,100 5.3% 74
Letha 572 $424,200 0.0% 40
Dubois 530 $52,625 $167,500 $725 1.0%
Weston 527 $80,000 $293,900 $1,063 6.9% 12
Nezperce 518 $55,625 $144,500 $625 4.2% 15
Firth 516 $64,583 $157,500 $917 0.0% 36
Richfield 509 $54,167 $171,200 $678 10.3% 61
Dayton 505 $81,667 $236,800 $1,125 6.0% 12
Craigmont 501 $55,139 $154,700 $917 4.6% 15
Deary 501 $73,250 $202,800 $941 0.4% 30
Declo 498 $48,438 $175,000 $1,059 2.9% 40
Newdale 493 $82,500 $250,000 $1,125 0.8% 25
Grand View 485 $39,722 $162,500 $643 8.8%
Oldtown 480 $54,620 $213,200 $811 15.0% 31
Mud Lake 468 $52,206 $126,600 $1,067 5.0% 23
Fairfield 463 $77,083 $188,200 $992 12.7% 21
Roberts 461 $45,156 $140,600 $430 9.7% 23
Lewisville 451 $68,750 $214,100 $833 7.0% 23
Blanchard 438 $52,555 $266,500 0.0% 31
Basalt 430 $72,917 $211,300 $1,036 1.8% 36
Garden Valley 409 $94,583 $294,600 0.0% 64
Eden 396 $32,125 $137,500 $806 4.5% 47
Culdesac 392 $44,375 $130,200 $905 7.4% 51
Tetonia 389 $54,931 $356,800 $1,125 0.0% 28
Pierce 388 $44,643 $150,000 $500 2.6% 20
Hollister 376 $55,833 $110,800 $900 9.4% 70
Albion 375 $64,922 $211,100 $964 9.8% 40
Weippe 369 $27,422 $107,900 $500 0.0% 20
Bancroft 347 $76,250 $168,400 $1,050 0.0% 16
Wardner 330 $34,643 $300,000 $1,100 6.6% 74
Yellow Pine 327 0.0% 75
Arimo 326 $64,028 $188,100 3.3% 79
Cambridge 326 $36,932 $170,800 9.1% 30
Gannett 316 $254,200 0.0% 40
Kendrick 313 $63,333 $165,200 $912 6.2% 30
Rockford Bay 306 $123,750 $862,100 11.5% 50
Dietrich 294 $71,250 $150,000 $950 3.8% 61
Malta 294 $131,100 0.0% 40
Lava Hot Springs 293 $45,000 $218,500 $783 6.9% 79
New Meadows 293 $60,278 $225,000 $792 3.9% 69
Laclede 291 $84,911 0.0% 31
Bliss 281 $64,545 $579 19.7% 52
Harrison 277 $75,833 $296,400 $795 10.1% 50
Midvale 273 $53,333 $129,200 $725 5.8% 30
Winchester 263 $44,167 $170,600 $740 5.8% 15
Riggins 258 $31,250 $278,600 $725 12.8% 46
Worley 258 $41,563 $133,900 $900 6.5% 50
Swan Valley 255 $85,000 5.9% 71
Elk City 253 $57,063 $357,100 22.5% 46
Hammett 253 $27,445 $136,300 $944 2.1% 44
Stanley 225 0.0% 71
Onaway 223 $74,000 $189,300 17.9% 30
East Hope 222 $71,500 $376,500 $1,125 0.0% 31
Donnelly 215 $330,800 $850 2.6% 75
Moore 211 $164,700 0.0% 34
Crouch 202 $73,029 $359,100 0.0% 64
Rockford 199 $56,250 $185,400 0.0% 36
Bovill 196 $43,125 $90,500 1.6% 30
Castleford 196 $33,750 $910 7.1% 70
Irwin 196 $62,188 $338,300 0.0% 71
Bloomington 193 $72,500 $325,000 6.3% 7
Acequia 187 $49,286 $89,200 17.8% 68
Ferdinand 179 $45,000 $171,300 $663 4.0% 46
Minidoka 175 $37,946 $98,800 $1,097 20.6% 68
Murphy 172 $71,302 $310,400 0.0%
Sweetwater 172 $81,458 $176,400 0.0% 51
Peck 165 $52,917 $127,500 $785 0.0% 51
Elk River 164 $51,250 $161,500 0.0% 20
Stites 163 $31,250 $118,800 $806 0.0% 46
Huetter 161 $36,282 $233,300 $781 0.0% 50
Murtaugh 154 $65,625 $104,200 4.1% 70
Rockland 151 $49,000 $170,000 0.0% 46
Princeton 149 0.0% 30
Fernwood 146 0.0% 72
Island Park 144 $68,333 $286,700 0.0% 25
Bennington 142 $95,341 0.0% 7
Fernan Lake Village 135 $117,500 $486,700 3.6% 50
Leadore 132 $28,942 $76,500 $1,063 0.0% 28
Conkling Park 130 $32,118 $556,500 0.0% 50
St. Charles 123 $86,500 $175,000 0.0% 7
De Smet 122 $44,286 $92,100 0.0% 72
Hope 96 $63,125 $300,000 19.4% 31
Smiths Ferry 82 $837,000 0.0% 75
Butte City 72 $14,653 $75,300 10.0% 34
Reubens 72 $70,938 $143,800 0.0% 15
Tensed 72 $23,750 $106,300 $419 7.7% 72
Viola 57 $82,321 0.0% 30
White Bird 50 $15,500 $155,700 0.0% 46
Parkline 45 $117,300 0.0% 72
Bruneau 41 0.0%
Placerville 41 $59,688 $187,500 12.5% 64
Hamer 38 $103,750 $250,000 0.0% 23
Oxford 38 $56,250 $262,500 0.0% 12
Spencer 23 $67,857 $112,500 23.5%
Lowman 22 $82,813 $228,100 0.0% 64
Atomic City 21 0.0% 36
State Line 16 $46,667 0.0% 50
Clayton 15 71
Lost River 10 71
Coolin 9 31
Banks 5 0.0% 64
Drummond 3 25
Warm River 0 25

Frequently Asked Questions

Idaho Falls, ID is among the most affordable cities in Idaho, with a cost of living index of 90 (US average = 100) and a median home value of $266,800. See the full ranking above.
Meridian, ID ranks among the safest cities in Idaho, with a crime index of 34 (100 = U.S. average, lower is safer). Crime data from the FBI UCR Program.
Meridian, ID has one of the highest median household incomes in Idaho at $93,296 per year. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

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