Idaho
Among the top 14% of US states for safety & wellbeing.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade B+, better than 84% of US states
WeatherWeather: grade B+, better than 73% of US states
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade A, better than 86% of US states
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade C, better than 42% of US states
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade D, better than 18% of US states
- top 2% for summer humidity
- top 2% for property crime
- bottom 1% for school quality
Idaho is a U.S. state with about 1,854,000 residents. It grades A for safety & wellbeing and D for lifestyle & connectivity. Standout strengths include summer humidity, property crime, and air quality. It rates lower on park & nature access and school quality.
Official websiteidaho.gov (opens in new tab)
- The median home value in Idaho is $333k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Median household income in Idaho is $71k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Median gross rent in Idaho is $1k a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Idaho has a violent crime rate of 887/100k, per the FBI Uniform Crime Reports.
- The average one-way commute in Idaho is 21 min, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$71k39th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$51kbetter than 54% of US states
Home Value$333k69th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$1kbetter than 55% of US states
Monthly Owner Costs$55kbetter than 73% of US states
Property Tax Rate0.59%better than 76% of US states
Income Tax5.71%better than 44% of US states
Sales Tax6.03%better than 72% of US states
Estimated total tax burden10.40%better than 52% of US states
Unemployment3.8%better than 88% of US states
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)29°F31st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)73°F25th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation17.0 in12th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall34.9 inbetter than 33% of US states
Sunny Days255 daysbetter than 82% of US states
Summer Humidity44°Fbetter than 98% of US states
Comfortable Days50 daysbetter than 12% of US states
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk65.7better than 84% of US states
Air Quality36 AQIbetter than 94% of US states
School Quality27.8better than 0% of US states
Violent Crime887/100kbetter than 76% of US states
Property Crime908/100kbetter than 98% of US states
Community
Population1,854,10925th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age37.314th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.2720th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio1.0280th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningR+3496th percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)80.1%80th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)0.6%4th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)13.1%69th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)1.3%12th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)4.9%69th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time21 minbetter than 84% of US states
Walkability8.3/20better than 39% of US states
Airport Distance73 mibetter than 31% of US states
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access89.7%better than 75% of US states
Amenities Nearby1.12better than 14% of US states
Park & Nature AccessModeratebetter than 10% of US states
Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)
Frequently asked questions
- Is Idaho an affordable place to live?
- Idaho is about average in cost. Its cost-of-living index is $51k, better than 54% of comparable areas. Median rent is $1k.
- Is Idaho safe?
- Idaho is safer than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 887/100k (better than 76%). Property crime is 908/100k.
- What is the weather like in Idaho?
- Idaho averages 73°F in July and 29°F in January, with 17.0 in of annual precipitation and about 255 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Idaho?
- Public-school quality in Idaho is below average, scoring better than 0% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Idaho?
- The average one-way commute in Idaho is 21 min.