Idahoflat 5.8% income tax, 6th lowest property tax, median home $425K
R+30 · Moderate tax burden · COL index 96
5.8%
Income Tax
228
Violent Crime / 100K
77.7
Life Expectancy
$425K
Median Home
$960
Childcare / Mo
Idaho in plain English
Worth knowing before you move to Idaho
Idaho has a flat 5.3% income tax and grew faster than almost any state between 2015 and 2023, driven by arrivals from California and Washington to the Boise area. Home prices in Ada County more than doubled in that stretch. The state offers a property-tax reduction for lower-income seniors and taxes Social Security for nobody.
What Idaho taxes, and what it doesn't
Idaho levies a flat 5.8% income tax. A household earning $75,000 pays an effective 5.0%, about $3,720 a year; at $150,000 the effective rate is 5.1%. Among the 41 states that tax income, Idaho has the 11th highest effective rate at $100,000 of income.
Property tax runs 0.48% of home value a year, roughly $2,040 on the state's median home of $425K. The national effective rate is about 1.10%, and Idaho has the 6th lowest rate of the 50 states.
Combined state and local sales tax averages 6.02%, the 14th lowest in the country (the state portion is 6%).
For retirees: Social Security benefits are not taxed, pension income is partly exempt, and there is no estate or inheritance tax.
Capital gains are taxed as ordinary income.
Housing and the cost of living in Idaho
Idaho's cost of living index is 96, where 100 is the national average; that is the 24th cheapest of the 50 states.
The median home costs $425K, 40% above the national figure and the 13th highest among the states. A two-bedroom rents for about $1,500 a month.
Carrying costs matter as much as the price: home insurance averages $800 a year, flood coverage adds about $450 where it is needed, car insurance runs $1,070.
Budget $105 a month for electricity and gas, $480 a month in groceries for two, $960 a month for full-time infant care.
Safety, health and schools
Violent crime is 228 incidents per 100,000 residents in the FBI's 2023 Crime Data Explorer figures, below the median state (387); Idaho is the 8th safest of the 50 by that measure. Property crime is 1,535 per 100,000.
Life expectancy is 77.7 years (County Health Rankings 2024). 9% of residents have no health insurance, and the state has expanded Medicaid. The Commonwealth Fund's 2023 scorecard ranks Idaho's health system 32nd of 50.
Education Week's 2023 Quality Counts report ranks K-12 schools 30th in the country.
Politics, guns and social policy
Politically, Idaho is a solidly Republican state that went to Trump by 30 points in 2024.
On guns, no permit is required to carry a concealed handgun, and Giffords grades the state's gun laws F.
Abortion is banned with narrow exceptions. Marijuana is illegal. Idaho is a right-to-work state, and the minimum wage is $7.25 an hour.
Climate, risk and getting around
Natural disaster risk is moderate. The main hazards are wildfire, earthquake. Annual average air quality index is 48 (under 50 is good).
Idaho has no top-25 hub airport, with about 45 nonstop destinations from its busiest airport.
Written from the figures on this page. Rankings compare the 50 states. Sources and years are listed with each figure below.
Largest counties in Idaho
State Profile
Taxes
Sources: state revenue departments · Tax Foundation 2026 · income-tax brackets 2026
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Taxes
Sources: state revenue departments · Tax Foundation 2026 · income-tax brackets 2026
Income Tax
Property Tax
~$2,040/yr on median home
Sales Tax
Social Security
Pension / IRA
Estate Tax
Inheritance Tax
Capital Gains
Housing & Cost of Living
Sources: Zillow · Census ACS · iii.org and state insurers 2026 · WRLURI 2018 · Census 2024 (HOA)
▾
Housing & Cost of Living
Sources: Zillow · Census ACS · iii.org and state insurers 2026 · WRLURI 2018 · Census 2024 (HOA)
Price Level vs US (BEA)
Near US average (100)
Mortgages 90+ Days Late
FHFA, latest quarter
Cost of Living Index
National avg = 100
Median Home Price
Median Rent (2BR)
Home Insurance
Below national avg (~$1,900/yr)
Flood Insurance
Homestead Exemption
Home equity protected from creditors
Asset Protection
Homes in HOAs
HOAs are common (Census ACS 2024)
Zoning Restrictiveness
More restrictive than most states (Wharton WRLURI 2018)
Short-Term Rentals (Airbnb)
State law prohibits local license caps and zone bans (strengthened 2026).
Crime & Safety
Sources: FBI Crime Data Explorer 2023 · SafeHome registry counts 2025 · HUD PIT 2024
▾
Crime & Safety
Sources: FBI Crime Data Explorer 2023 · SafeHome registry counts 2025 · HUD PIT 2024
Violent Crime Rate
Near national avg
Property Crime Rate
Near national avg
Traffic Fatality Rate
Registered Sex Offenders
Above the state median (SafeHome 2025)
Homeless Population
Moderate homelessness rate; 50% unsheltered (HUD 2024 PIT)
More on Idaho
Healthcare#32 of 50▾
Sources: Commonwealth Fund 2023 · KFF · CDC
State Healthcare Rank
Life Expectancy
Medicaid Expansion
Uninsured Rate
EducationK-12 #30 of 50▾
Sources: Education Week 2023 · NCES · state statutes (school choice)
College Completion Rate
College Scorecard, in-state institutions (mean)
Avg College Cost of Attendance
College Scorecard 2024
K-12 Quality Rank
School Choice / Vouchers
HS Graduation Rate
Below national avg (~87%)
Pupil-Teacher Ratio
Near national avg (~16)
Childcare$960/mo infant care▾
Sources: Child Care Aware · Census ACS 2022
Avg Infant Care (Full-Time)
Utilities & Daily Costs$105/mo energy▾
Sources: EIA (electricity, weekly gas) · USDA · eGRID 2022
Grid Carbon Intensity
Cleaner than US average (~820)
Avg Monthly Energy Bill
Below national avg
Electricity Rate
Below national avg (13¢)
Energy Mix
Avg Monthly Groceries
2-person household, moderate spending
Road Quality Rank
Airports & Travel45+ nonstop routes▾
Sources: FAA · BTS
Nonstop Destinations
From state's primary airport
Major Hub Airport
Regional airport. Connections via hub
Culture & Lifestyle71% urban▾
Sources: Census CBP · Brewers Association 2024 · Pollstar · AANR/TNS · AGA 2024
Urban Population
Mix of urban and rural
Restaurant Density
Limited dining options
Religious Congregations
Pro Sports Teams
NFL + NBA + MLB + NHL + MLS
Major Venues
Stadiums, arenas, amphitheaters (10K+ capacity)
Craft Breweries
4.3/100K residents: Strong scene
Craft Distilleries
Live Music
Boise growing indie scene; Sun Valley Jazz Festival; strong craft beer per capita
Transportation$1,070/yr car insurance▾
Sources: NHTSA FARS · FCC · insurance rate surveys 2024 · IIHS helmet laws 2026
Car Insurance (Avg Annual)
Below national avg
Traffic Fatality Rate
Broadband Access
Work From Home
State residents who primarily work from home (ACS)
Social & Legal$7.25/hr minimum wage▾
Sources: Guttmacher · KFF · NCSL · state statutes 2026
Formal Volunteering Rate
AmeriCorps / Census CPS 2023 (US ~28%)
Votes in Local Elections
AmeriCorps / Census CPS 2023
Abortion Access
Near-total ban with narrow exceptions
LGBTQ+ Protections
Marijuana
Minimum Wage
Right to Work
Sports Betting
Casino Gambling
Online Gambling
State Lottery
Tribal casinos only. Constitution limits commercial gambling. Horse racing legal.
Age of Consent
Sex Education
No state sex ed mandate
Nude Beaches & Naturist Clubs
Idaho naturists use remote forest and hot springs areas
Environment & ClimateAQI 48▾
Sources: EPA AQI · NOAA · FEMA National Risk Index
Air Quality (Annual AQI)
Near national avg
Natural Disaster Risk
Primary Hazards
Politics & Gun LawsR+30 · gun law grade F▾
Sources: OpenElections 2024 · Giffords 2025 · state statutes
2024 Presidential Vote
Gun Laws
Carry Permit
Purchase Permit Required
Carry in Bars
Carry in Restaurants
Carry in Places of Worship
No state prohibition; posting governs.
Gambling
Hunting & Outdoors33% public land▾
Sources: state wildlife agencies · USFS · BLM · USFWS (May 2026)
33% public land with excellent elk country in the Frank Church Wilderness. Most units are over-the-counter for residents.
Idaho Department of Fish & Game: Official Season Dates ↗Finding nearby venues...
Jobs & Economy3.1% unemployment▾
Sources: BLS QCEW 2024 · BLS JOLTS 2024 · BLS union membership 2025 · Census ACS
Job Openings Rate (JOLTS)
Near US average (~4.5%)
Quits Rate (JOLTS)
Workers quit when they can find better; BLS 2024 average
Job Market
+2.4% job growth · 3.1% unemployment
Top Industries
Tech Jobs
Healthcare Jobs
Remote Work
Median Household Income
Union Membership
Among the least unionized states (BLS 2025)
Business Climate#8 of 50▾
Sources: Tax Foundation · state filings
Corporate Income Tax
LLC Formation Fee
LLC Annual Fee
Business Climate Rank
Top-10 nationally (Tax Foundation SBTCI 2024)
Daily Life$3.22/gal gas▾
Sources: American Pyrotechnics Association · state statutes 2026 · IIHS
Gas Price (Regular)
Below avg (-0.08 vs national avg)
Consumer Fireworks
Most consumer fireworks legal; local restrictions vary
Motorcycle Helmet Law
Required under 18 (IIHS 2026)
Weather & Natural Risks90°F avg July▾
Sources: NOAA · NWS Storm Prediction Center · FEMA NRI
Winter Severity
Avg January high: 35°F
Summer Heat
Hot summers
Annual Rainfall
Tornado Risk
Hurricane Risk
Wildfire Risk
Flood Risk
Natural Hazards32/100 danger▾
Sources: USGS · CDC · USDA APHIS · NOAA · FEMA NRI 2023
Venomous Snakes
Spider Hazard
Scorpions
Hurricane Risk
Tornado Risk
Wildfire Risk
Earthquake Risk
Murder Hornets
Danger score is a composite index. Methodology ↗
Veteran Benefits80/100 veteran-friendly▾
Sources: VA.gov · Military.com state guide · Tax Foundation
Veteran-Friendly Score
9.8% of state population are veterans
Property Tax Exemption
Up to $1,500 exemption
Military Retirement Pay
Active Duty Pay
VA Facilities Access
Notable Benefits
Explore Idaho counties
Income, housing, poverty, healthcare, ranked by county
See your full cost of living in Idaho
Housing, taxes, childcare, insurance: all estimated.
Compare Similar States
ID vs PA
Idaho vs Pennsylvania
COL 96 vs 97 · 5.8% vs 3.07% income tax
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ID vs SD
Idaho vs South Dakota
COL 96 vs 95 · 5.8% vs No income tax
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ID vs TX
Idaho vs Texas
COL 96 vs 97 · 5.8% vs No income tax
Full comparison →
ID vs NC
Idaho vs North Carolina
COL 96 vs 94 · 5.8% vs 3.99% income tax
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Data is informational only. Verify with a tax professional, real estate agent, and local sources before making relocation decisions. Crime data: FBI Crime Data Explorer 2023. Healthcare: Commonwealth Fund 2023; life expectancy from County Health Rankings 2024. Education: Education Week 2023. Housing: Zillow monthly index and Census ACS 2022. Insurance: rate surveys 2024. Sponsored links marked “Sponsored” may earn a commission. This does not affect our data or rankings.