Best places to live in Idaho (2026)

All 9 ranked places in Idaho, by all-round score.

Ranked by an all-round score: the average of all 14 quality scores (housing costs, taxes, jobs, healthcare, education, family life, safety, natural disasters, climate and more), weighted equally. Places missing from the FBI crime table are left out, since their safety is unknown. Scores are out of 100.

1. 1Meridian, IDMid-size city · 3-bed $483k · very safe68
2. 2Boise, IDMid-size city · 3-bed $474k · very safe64
3. 3Caldwell, IDSmall city · 3-bed $376k · safe60
4. 4Nampa, IDSuburb · 3-bed $392k · safe60
5. 5Post Falls, IDSmall city · 3-bed $500k · very safe59
6. 6Coeur d'Alene, IDSmall city · 3-bed $567k · very safe57
7. 7Idaho Falls, IDSmall city · 3-bed $353k · very safe53
8. 8Twin Falls, IDSmall city · 3-bed $355k · safe52
9. 9Pocatello, IDSmall city · 3-bed $316k · safe50

Cheapest places to live in Idaho

Ranked by the typical value of a 3-bedroom home (Zillow), lowest first.

1. 1Pocatello, IDSmall city · rent $1,630/mo · cost of living 89$316k
2. 2Idaho Falls, IDSmall city · rent $1,820/mo · cost of living 94$353k
3. 3Twin Falls, IDSmall city · rent $1,790/mo · cost of living 95$355k
4. 4Caldwell, IDSmall city · rent $2,320/mo · cost of living 98$376k
5. 5Nampa, IDSuburb · rent $2,320/mo · cost of living 98$392k

Safest places to live in Idaho

Ranked by violent crimes per resident in FBI 2019 data, lowest first. Places missing from the FBI table are left out.

1. 1Meridian, IDMid-size city · violent crime 0.4× the US rate159 per 100k
2. 2Post Falls, IDSmall city · violent crime 0.5× the US rate191 per 100k
3. 3Coeur d'Alene, IDSmall city · violent crime 0.7× the US rate253 per 100k
4. 4Idaho Falls, IDSmall city · violent crime 0.7× the US rate277 per 100k
5. 5Boise, IDMid-size city · violent crime 0.7× the US rate281 per 100k

Safest places from natural disasters in Idaho

Ranked by our natural disaster score: FEMA's expected deaths, injuries and home damage from 18 hazards, plus federally declared disasters in the county since 2000.

1. 1Caldwell, ID1 declared disaster since 2000 · mainly flooding, heat waves98
2. 2Nampa, ID1 declared disaster since 2000 · mainly flooding, heat waves98
3. 3Meridian, ID2 declared disasters since 2000 · mainly flooding96
4. 4Twin Falls, ID1 declared disaster since 2000 · mainly flooding, heat waves96
5. 5Boise, ID2 declared disasters since 2000 · mainly flooding93

Best places to live for families in Idaho

Ranked by a family score: the average of our Kids & family, Safety, Education and Affordable housing scores. Places missing from the FBI crime table are left out.

1. 1Meridian, IDMid-size city · kids excellent · safety excellent · 3-bed $483k70
2. 2Caldwell, IDSmall city · kids excellent · safety good · 3-bed $376k60
3. 3Idaho Falls, IDSmall city · kids good · safety excellent · 3-bed $353k60
4. 4Nampa, IDSuburb · kids excellent · safety good · 3-bed $392k60
5. 5Boise, IDMid-size city · kids average · safety excellent · 3-bed $474k59

Best places to live · Cheapest places to live · Safest places to live · Safest places from natural disasters · Best places to live for families

Data: US Census, Zillow, HUD, BEA, FBI 2019, FEMA, NOAA, NASA, CMS, NCES and others. How scores work.