Pros, cons, key stats, and the strongest Idaho cities to consider. Based on our analysis of 43 tracked Idaho city markets.
Yes, for many movers. The better answer is city-specific: Idaho contains both stronger and weaker markets, and the right fit depends on your budget, job needs, climate tolerance, and tax situation.
Pros
- Low effective property tax rate (0.49%)
- Social Security is not taxed by the state
- Middle-of-the-pack tracked-city housing ($424,929)
- Healthy housing-market momentum in tracked cities (70/100 median)
- Positive population growth across tracked cities (+2.1%/yr median)
Cons
- State averages hide major city-by-city differences
- Best-known places can price above the statewide median
What this means in practice
Across 43 tracked Idaho city markets, the median home costs $424,929 with a 1-year change of +1.5% and a median momentum score of 70 out of 100.
On taxes, Flat 5.8% income tax. Low property tax. Moderate sales tax. SS untaxed; partial pension treatment. That matters because the cheapest state on paper can still be expensive if property tax, insurance, or local housing costs overwhelm the headline rate.
State-level averages mask city-level variation — within any state, individual cities can have radically different cost, climate, and trajectory. Use the strongest-momentum cities below as a starting point.