Your EZ Search Idaho Moving Guide
Are you dreaming of open spaces? Idaho’s sprawling landscapes provide plenty of room to breathe, build, and grow. It’s definitely a place to escape crowds, and for those who love outdoor adventure, Idaho has plenty of it! But that may not be for much longer. The numbers show many people are moving to Idaho–perhaps you’re one of them.
What is it about the Gem State that is luring people to call it home? And why did US News and World Report rank it the nation’s third-best state to live in 2024? Come get to know about Idaho and what to expect once you move in.
Idaho’s Many Regions
Idaho covers a lot of ground–literally. Its landscapes are incredibly diverse, with rugged mountain peaks, valleys, and low-lying plains. One thing shared across the state is the friendly, hardy people in all Idaho’s regions. But if you’re looking for a specific way of life or access to certain amenities, knowing a little about the different Idaho regions helps narrow your home search.
Northern Idaho
Dense forests, mountains, and roaring waterways characterize Idaho’s chimney stack. This region’s cities of Coeur d’Alene, Kootenai, and Sandpoint draw people in for their scenic beauty and outdoor recreation opportunities. Part of the beautiful great outdoors is the Silver Valley, known for its mining history. While hiking the hills, don’t be surprised to encounter an old mine site.
North-Central Idaho
Below the narrower part of the chimney stack, find towns like Grangeville, Moscow, and Lewiston. Rafting and fishing are popular outdoor activities. The rolling hills have beautiful flower-filled meadows, farmlands, and, naturally, lots of wilderness.
Central Idaho
The rugged Sawtooth and Salmon River Mountains create a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts. Hiking, camping, fishing, and whitewater rafting abound. Wilderness fun starts at the iconic Sawtooth National Recreation Area. It continues Sun Valley, a popular resort town for skiing and outdoor recreation.
Southwest
The Southwest is home to Idaho’s capital city, Boise, and is the state’s most populous and urbanized region. Growing cities like Nampa, Meridian, and Caldwell create a diverse economy and add more cultural attractions. Outdoor recreation is available in the nearby Boise Foothills and Snake River Valley.
South Central
Ancient lava flows, eye-catching rock formations, and deep canyons are just part of the natural allure in South Central Idaho. The Snake River thrums through the region’s heart, wooing river rafters and BASE jumpers. Twin Falls, Hagerman, and Burley are three small towns serving as jumping-off points for high adventure.
Southeast
High desert landscapes and rural communities characterize this region. It’s known for its agricultural heritage, which includes potato farming and livestock ranching. Southeastern Idaho attractions include the American Falls Reservoir and the scenic Bear Lake, known as the “Caribbean of the Rockies” for its turquoise waters. The top towns are Pocatello, Lava Hot Springs, and Montpelier.
Eastern
Vast tracts of potatoes, wheat, and other crops paint Eastern Idaho. But it’s not all farming. Popular natural landmarks are the Snake River Plain, Craters of the Moon National Monument, and the iconic Teton mountain range, which extends into Wyoming. A slice of Yellowstone National Park runs into Eastern Idaho. The major population centers are Idaho Falls, Rexburg, and Island Park.
Hot and Cold Climate
Pack your wardrobe accordingly and prepare to experience all four seasons in full glory. Idaho’s climate dishes out intense heat in the summer and quite severe cold in the winter.
How intense is it? Specific conditions vary depending on location. The further north and higher in elevation you are, the more you can expect winters to roll in with a punch. Temperatures often drop below freezing in long, intense stretches. But over in the Southwest, the climate is much drier. The locals here receive less rain and snow during the year. The Southeast has a desert climate with hot, dry summers.
So your experience greatly depends on where you move in Idaho.
One item of note is wildfires. Idaho’s drier climes and large rural areas increase the state’s fire risk and lower the air quality during those times of the year. Winds and pressure changes move the smoke around the state.
Learn in Idaho
Idaho has made up some educational ground over the preceding years. Its public K-12 system and higher education system now rank higher. From 2016 to 2021, it moved from 31 to 17 in the nation on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NEAP).
But it’s a mixed bag, as its educational attainment rate (the persons over 25 with a high school or college degree) remains among the nation’s lowest. According to the National Education Association (NEA), its per-student funding is still the lowest. Given the state’s large, rural areas, access to quality teachers and programs is another struggle. Just getting to school can be quite the commute for students in some areas.
Improving education is a priority in Idaho. Two of its colleges, the University of Idaho and Boise State University, rank in the nation’s top 10 education schools. It shows a focus on graduating qualified teachers, which is essential for boosting education quality at the lower level.
Another benefit of schooling in Idaho is that the state is friendly to homeschooling families and allows for a lot of educational freedom.
Healthcare Access
Idaho’s healthcare scorings run in the middle of the state. Part of being a rural state is it makes accessing quality healthcare more challenging and expensive. It also makes it harder to attract qualified medical personnel to work in the state’s hard-to-reach and cost-burdened areas. That drops the number of healthcare personnel available per capita.
While access remains a challenge, those who do seek medical care generally have positive outcomes. That’s helped boost its score in WalletHub’s methodology.
A Lower Cost of Living
Even though Idaho ranked no. 28 for living costs in 2023, home prices and expenses are still lower than in many other parts of the country. Compared to neighboring West Coast states, like Washington State or Oregon, Idaho delivers more for your money.
Overall, living costs in Idaho are 2% under the national going rate. Besides affordable housing, healthcare and utilities expenses are generally lower. Spending less on essentials adds to the quality of life in Idaho.
Idaho Taxes Are Favorable
Idaho’s tax burden is lower than that of other states, allowing you to enjoy more of your salary.
The Idaho State Tax Commission reported that Idaho ranked 35th based on the percentage of income paid to taxes, with 51 being the lowest.
Idaho levies a flat 5.8% individual income tax. There are no graduated tables to worry about or determine what you’ll owe.
Statewide sales taxes are 6%, with local jurisdictions capped at 3% for sales taxes. The average rate is 6.02%.
Idaho’s property taxes are fairly low, too, ranking 14th in the nation for 2024. Residents paid about 0.67% of their home’s value in property taxes, amounting to $5,455,46 on a median home value. Keep in mind that statewide property values are influenced by owning large swaths of land. You can find homes much less than this median value in towns across the state.
A Growing Job Market
Appreciate where your food comes from — you’re moving to one of America’s key agricultural hubs! You can’t miss the spuds living in Idaho. Yes, the potato state has embraced its association with the brown lumps that Americans slice, mash, fry, and bake by the tons every day.
Idaho’s economy is deeply rooted in agriculture, but it’s not all potatoes. Idaho is a top producer of dairy products, livestock, peas, and hops.
But the economy is not tied to what grows in the ground. Idaho’s job market is taking off. For 2024, it had the second-best economic outlook in the nation. From 2012-2022, its cumulative GDP grew by 87%–and nonfarm growth was 32%. That makes it the market leader in economic and job market growth.
Newcomers will find strong employment prospects for newcomers, particularly in sectors like technology. However, it’s keen on growing its energy, advanced manufacturing, and aerospace sectors. Its business-friendly environment and policies encourage more tech companies to consider setting up in low-cost Idaho.
Plus, people flock to Idaho’s great outdoors. A large outdoor recreation and tourism component rounds out job prospects. Tourism generates almost $4 billion for the state’s economy.
Feel Safer in Idaho
One of the most compelling reasons to pack your bags for Idaho is its safety rankings. Peace of mind comes easier here, with property crime and violent crime rates reported well below the national averages. In 2023, it had 9.5 incidents of property crime per 1,000 residents. Nationally, that figure is 20.7.
But safety also includes environmental risk factors. Idaho residents have relatively low levels of pollution and natural disaster risks compared to many other states. The region is not prone to hurricanes, tornadoes, or earthquakes.
However, wildfires do pose a risk. Pay attention to burn bans or high-risk warnings as wildfires spread rapidly. Dense smoke can impact those with respiratory conditions and allergies, even if the fires are hundreds of miles away.
Idaho Bucket List
From the snowy peaks of Schweitzer Mountain to the rushing waters of Snake River, Idaho is an outdoor enthusiast’s haven. Fishing, skiing, hiking, and more are at your doorstep. Here is a sampling of the best things to do once you move to Idaho.
Sawtooth Mountains: Hike, backpack, or horseback ride through the rugged and stunning Sawtooth Wilderness. Its jagged peaks, alpine lakes, and undisturbed wilderness have long attracted those looking for adventure or a rustic getaway.
Shoshone Falls: Visit the “Niagara of the West” near Twin Falls. The mighty Snake River cascades over a 212-foot-high waterfall. It’s especially impressive during spring runoff.
Craters of the Moon National Monument: Explore this otherworldly landscape of ancient lava flows, cinder cones, and volcanic caves. The recreation area hikes are truly unique, and there are spelunking opportunities.
Sun Valley: Tourists flock to scenic Wood River Valley for this resort town. In the winter, you can experience world-class skiing and snowboarding, and in the other seasons, you can take to the hills for mountain biking and rafting.
Hells Canyon: Cruise on a jet boat tour or hiking adventure in Hells Canyon. The Snake River carved North America’s deepest river gorge, creating incredible vistas.
Lake Coeur d’Alene: Relax on the shores of this pristine lake. Its crystal-clear waters are perfect for scenic cruises, boating, fishing, and swimming.
Snake River Wine Region: Did you know Idaho is a wine country? Discover Idaho’s terroir in a tour of wineries and vineyards in the Snake River Valley.
Idaho Botanical Garden: Stroll through beautifully landscaped gardens in Boise’s Old Penitentiary Historic District. The grounds have themed gardens, native plant displays, and seasonal attractions.
Idaho State Capitol: Tour the neoclassical Idaho State Capitol building in Boise. The guided tours of the legislative chambers and historic exhibits will deepen your appreciation of the Gem State.
Other Quirks of Living in Idaho
Friendly People
Idahoans are known for their welcoming spirit and strong sense of community. Residents take pride in their state’s natural beauty, agricultural heritage, and growing industries. They have built a spirit of relying on each other in the vast wilderness to get through tougher times. It’s an easy place for newcomers to make new friends and connections.
Boise State Mania
If you’re moving to Boise, get ready to don the blue and orange for Boise State University’s athletic teams. The Boise State Broncos have become a symbol of pride for residents, drawing large crowds to football games. This fervent fan base is characterized by a sea of blue and orange in season, especially on game day.
Auto Necessity
Public transportation in Idaho is less extensive than in larger cities. Owning a car is almost necessary to fully enjoy the state’s offerings. Around 88% of the state is rural. If you want to move to Idaho to play in its great outdoors, you’ll need a vehicle to get there. And if you live in one of Idaho’s charming small towns, the next one could be miles away if you need to travel for medical or shopping.
Moving to Idaho
It’s about the small things: friendly neighbors, a quiet walk in the woods, and overall peace of mind. This is what you’ll come to appreciate living in Idaho. People may come for the Sawtooth Mountains or skiing Sun Valley, but everything else makes them stay. Idaho has the right combination of affordable living and enriched living.
