State comparison
Idaho vs Wisconsin: which state is better to live in?
Idaho costs a median household about $1,800 a year less in state and local taxes than Wisconsin, mostly because property tax on a median home runs $2,040 a year against $4,304 in Wisconsin, though everyday prices run higher there (cost of living index 96 against 93).
Idaho
Moderate tax burden · COL index 96
Wins 6 categories
Wisconsin
Moderate tax burden · COL index 93
Wins 8 categories
Taxes: Idaho vs Wisconsin
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. Wisconsin has a graduated income tax topping out at 7.65%, which works out to 4.5% on a median income of $74,580, or $3,349 a year. Wisconsin wins on income tax at 2026 rates.
Property tax is 0.48% of home value a year in Idaho and 1.51% in Wisconsin (Tax Foundation, 2023); on each state's median home that is $2,040 against $4,304, so Idaho has the lower rate.
Combined state and local sales tax averages 6.02% in Idaho and 5.43% in Wisconsin; Wisconsin is lower.
Add it up for a household earning $74,580 (the 2022 national median) and owning the median home: $7,085 a year in Idaho, $8,868 in Wisconsin. Idaho is cheaper on total state and local tax.
Housing and cost of living
Idaho's cost of living index is 96 and Wisconsin's is 93, where 100 is the national average; Wisconsin is about 3% cheaper day to day.
The median home costs $425K in Idaho and $285K in Wisconsin (Zillow, 2024), a $140K gap in Wisconsin's favor. A two-bedroom rents for about $1,500 a month in Idaho and $1,200 in Wisconsin.
Home insurance averages $800 a year in Idaho and $1,100 in Wisconsin, so Idaho is cheaper to insure.
Safety
Violent crime runs 228 incidents per 100,000 residents in Idaho and 295 in Wisconsin (FBI Crime Data Explorer, 2023); Idaho is the safer state by that measure, with a rate 29% lower. Property crime is 1,535 per 100,000 in Idaho against 1,787 in Wisconsin, again favoring Idaho.
Health
Life expectancy is 77.7 years in Idaho and 78.1 in Wisconsin (County Health Rankings, 2024), a 0.4-year edge for Wisconsin. The Commonwealth Fund's 2023 scorecard ranks Idaho's health system 32nd of 50 and Wisconsin's 8th, so Wisconsin scores better on care.
9.0% of Idaho residents have no health insurance against 5.7% in Wisconsin, which favors Wisconsin. Idaho expanded Medicaid and Wisconsin did not.
Schools
Education Week's 2023 Quality Counts report ranks Idaho's K-12 schools 30th in the country and Wisconsin's 11th, 19 places apart in Wisconsin's favor. Wisconsin runs a school-choice voucher program; Idaho does not.
Laws and politics
In the 2024 presidential election Idaho went to Trump by 30 points and Wisconsin was a swing state decided by 1 points.
Idaho has permitless carry and a Giffords gun-law grade of F; Wisconsin has shall-issue carry permits and a grade of F.
Abortion is banned with narrow exceptions in Idaho and legal with limits in Wisconsin, and marijuana is illegal in both as of 2026. The minimum wage is $7.25 an hour in Idaho and $7.25 in Wisconsin.
Climate and risk
Natural disaster risk is moderate in Idaho (wildfire, earthquake) and moderate in Wisconsin (blizzard, tornado, flood). Annual average air quality index is 48 in Idaho and 34 in Wisconsin (under 50 is good), favoring Wisconsin.
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
6
Idaho
8
Wisconsin
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Score For My Profile →Questions people ask
Is Idaho or Wisconsin better to live in?
It depends on what you weigh most. Idaho on taxes ($7,085 a year for a median household against $8,868); Wisconsin on everyday costs (index 93 against 96); Idaho on safety (228 violent crimes per 100,000 against 295); Wisconsin on schools (ranked 11th against 30th).
Which is cheaper, Idaho or Wisconsin?
Wisconsin is cheaper day to day: cost of living index 93 against 96. The median home is $425K in Idaho and $285K in Wisconsin (2024). On state and local taxes Idaho saves a median household about $1,800 a year.
Does Idaho or Wisconsin have lower taxes?
Idaho. A household earning $74,580 pays about $7,085 a year in Idaho ($3,698 income tax, $2,040 property tax on the median home and $1,347 in sales tax) and $8,868 in Wisconsin ($3,349 income tax, $4,304 property tax on the median home and $1,215 in sales tax), at 2026 rates.
Which is safer, Idaho or Wisconsin?
Idaho, on the FBI's 2023 figures. Violent crime is 228 per 100,000 residents in Idaho and 295 in Wisconsin; property crime is 1,535 against 1,787.
Which has better schools, Idaho or Wisconsin?
Wisconsin. Education Week's 2023 Quality Counts report ranks Idaho 30th of 50 for K-12 and Wisconsin 11th. Wisconsin also offers school-choice vouchers.
Is Idaho or Wisconsin better for retirees?
Both treat retirement income about the same. Idaho does not tax Social Security, partly exempts pensions and has no estate or inheritance tax; Wisconsin does not tax Social Security, partly exempts pensions and has no estate or inheritance tax. Property tax on a median home is $2,040 a year in Idaho and $4,304 in Wisconsin.