State comparison
Arkansas vs Idaho: which state is better to live in?
Arkansas costs a median household about $1,100 a year less in state and local taxes than Idaho, mostly because its income tax takes 3.6% of a median income against 5.0% in Idaho.
Arkansas
Moderate tax burden · COL index 85
Wins 5 categories
Idaho
Moderate tax burden · COL index 96
Wins 9 categories
Taxes: Arkansas vs Idaho
Arkansas has a graduated income tax topping out at 3.9%, which works out to 3.6% on a median income of $74,580, or $2,680 a year. Idaho has a flat 5.8% income tax, which works out to 5.0% on a median income of $74,580, or $3,698 a year. Arkansas wins on income tax at 2026 rates.
Property tax is 0.60% of home value a year in Arkansas and 0.48% in Idaho (Tax Foundation, 2023); on each state's median home that is $1,170 against $2,040, so Idaho has the lower rate.
Combined state and local sales tax averages 9.46% in Arkansas and 6.02% in Idaho; Idaho is lower.
Add it up for a household earning $74,580 (the 2022 national median) and owning the median home: $5,966 a year in Arkansas, $7,085 in Idaho. Arkansas is cheaper on total state and local tax.
Housing and cost of living
Arkansas's cost of living index is 85 and Idaho's is 96, where 100 is the national average; Arkansas is about 13% cheaper day to day.
The median home costs $195K in Arkansas and $425K in Idaho (Zillow, 2024), a $230K gap in Arkansas's favor. A two-bedroom rents for about $970 a month in Arkansas and $1,500 in Idaho.
Home insurance averages $2,600 a year in Arkansas and $800 in Idaho, so Idaho is cheaper to insure.
Safety
Violent crime runs 619 incidents per 100,000 residents in Arkansas and 228 in Idaho (FBI Crime Data Explorer, 2023); Idaho is the safer state by that measure, with a rate 171% lower. Property crime is 2,469 per 100,000 in Arkansas against 1,535 in Idaho, again favoring Idaho.
Health
Life expectancy is 73.8 years in Arkansas and 77.7 in Idaho (County Health Rankings, 2024), a 3.9-year edge for Idaho. The Commonwealth Fund's 2023 scorecard ranks Arkansas's health system 44th of 50 and Idaho's 32nd, so Idaho scores better on care.
9.4% of Arkansas residents have no health insurance against 9.0% in Idaho, which favors Idaho. Both states expanded Medicaid.
Schools
Education Week's 2023 Quality Counts report ranks Arkansas's K-12 schools 42nd in the country and Idaho's 30th, 12 places apart in Idaho's favor. Arkansas runs a school-choice voucher program; Idaho does not.
Laws and politics
In the 2024 presidential election Arkansas went to Trump by 28 points and Idaho went to Trump by 30 points.
Arkansas has permitless carry and a Giffords gun-law grade of F; Idaho has permitless carry and a grade of F.
Abortion is banned with narrow exceptions in both states, and marijuana is medical only in Arkansas and illegal in Idaho as of 2026. The minimum wage is $11.00 an hour in Arkansas and $7.25 in Idaho.
Climate and risk
Natural disaster risk is high in Arkansas (tornado, flood) and moderate in Idaho (wildfire, earthquake), so Idaho is the lower-risk state. Annual average air quality index is 35 in Arkansas and 48 in Idaho (under 50 is good), favoring Arkansas.
Tax figures use a household earning the national median income and owning each state's median home, at tax year 2026 rates, last checked against state sources on 2026-09-14. The table below has every number.
Taxes
Housing & Cost of Living
Crime & Safety
Healthcare
Education
Childcare
Utilities & Daily Costs
Social Policy
Category wins
5
Arkansas
9
Idaho
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Score For My Profile →Questions people ask
Is Arkansas or Idaho better to live in?
It depends on what you weigh most. Arkansas on taxes ($5,966 a year for a median household against $7,085); Arkansas on everyday costs (index 85 against 96); Idaho on safety (228 violent crimes per 100,000 against 619); Idaho on schools (ranked 30th against 42nd).
Which is cheaper, Arkansas or Idaho?
Arkansas is cheaper day to day: cost of living index 85 against 96. The median home is $195K in Arkansas and $425K in Idaho (2024). On state and local taxes Arkansas saves a median household about $1,100 a year.
Does Arkansas or Idaho have lower taxes?
Arkansas. A household earning $74,580 pays about $5,966 a year in Arkansas ($2,680 income tax, $1,170 property tax on the median home and $2,117 in sales tax) and $7,085 in Idaho ($3,698 income tax, $2,040 property tax on the median home and $1,347 in sales tax), at 2026 rates.
Which is safer, Arkansas or Idaho?
Idaho, on the FBI's 2023 figures. Violent crime is 619 per 100,000 residents in Arkansas and 228 in Idaho; property crime is 2,469 against 1,535.
Which has better schools, Arkansas or Idaho?
Idaho. Education Week's 2023 Quality Counts report ranks Arkansas 42nd of 50 for K-12 and Idaho 30th. Arkansas also offers school-choice vouchers.
Is Arkansas or Idaho better for retirees?
Both treat retirement income about the same. Arkansas does not tax Social Security, partly exempts pensions and has no estate or inheritance tax; Idaho does not tax Social Security, partly exempts pensions and has no estate or inheritance tax. Property tax on a median home is $1,170 a year in Arkansas and $2,040 in Idaho.