Idahoflat 5.8% income tax, 6th lowest property tax, median home $425K

R+30 · Moderate tax burden · COL index 96

B+

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 5.8% 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 5.8%, about $4,350 a year; at $150,000 the effective rate is 5.8%. Among the 41 states that tax income, Idaho has the 8th 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

Ada County Canyon County Kootenai County Bonneville County Twin Falls County Bannock County Madison County Bingham County Bonner County Nez Perce County All Idaho counties →

Ranked lists

State Profile

63/100

Idaho will change its laws. We'll email you when it does.

One email when Idaho changes a tax, gun, cannabis or abortion law. Unsubscribe in one click.

Taxes

Sources: state revenue departments · Tax Foundation 2026 · income-tax brackets 2026

▾

Income Tax

5.8% flat

Property Tax

~$2,040/yr on median home

0.48% / yr

Sales Tax

6.02% avg

Social Security

Exempt

Pension / IRA

Partial

Estate Tax

None

Inheritance Tax

None

Capital Gains

Taxed as income

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)

95.5

Mortgages 90+ Days Late

FHFA, latest quarter

0.7%

Cost of Living Index

National avg = 100

Median Home Price

$425,000

Median Rent (2BR)

$1,500/mo

Home Insurance

Below national avg (~$1,900/yr)

$800/yr

Flood Insurance

$450/yr

Homestead Exemption

Home equity protected from creditors

$100,000

Asset Protection

Moderate

Homes in HOAs

HOAs are common (Census ACS 2024)

30.9%

Zoning Restrictiveness

More restrictive than most states (Wharton WRLURI 2018)

Restrictive

Short-Term Rentals (Airbnb)

State law prohibits local license caps and zone bans (strengthened 2026).

State-Protected

Crime & Safety

Sources: FBI Crime Data Explorer 2023 · SafeHome registry counts 2025 · HUD PIT 2024

▾

Violent Crime Rate

Near national avg

228 / 100K

Property Crime Rate

Near national avg

1,535 / 100K

Traffic Fatality Rate

15.1 / 100K

Registered Sex Offenders

Above the state median (SafeHome 2025)

284 / 100K

Homeless Population

Moderate homelessness rate — 50% unsheltered (HUD 2024 PIT)

137 / 100K

Healthcare

Sources: Commonwealth Fund 2023 · KFF · CDC

▾

State Healthcare Rank

#32 of 50

Life Expectancy

77.7 yrs

Medicaid Expansion

Expanded

Uninsured Rate

Education

Sources: Education Week 2023 · NCES · state statutes (school choice)

▾

College Completion Rate

College Scorecard, in-state institutions (mean)

66%

Avg College Cost of Attendance

College Scorecard 2024

$26,664/yr

K-12 Quality Rank

#30 of 50

School Choice / Vouchers

Not Available

HS Graduation Rate

Below national avg (~87%)

81.9%

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Near national avg (~16)

17.5 students/teacher

Childcare

Sources: Child Care Aware · Census ACS 2022

▾

Avg Infant Care (Full-Time)

$960/mo

Utilities & Daily Costs

Sources: EIA (electricity, weekly gas) · USDA · eGRID 2022

▾

Grid Carbon Intensity

Cleaner than US average (~820)

248 lb CO₂/MWh

Avg Monthly Energy Bill

Below national avg

$105/mo

Electricity Rate

Below national avg (13¢)

9.9¢/kWh

Energy Mix

⚡ 73% renewable · ☀ 3% solar · 💨 15% wind

Avg Monthly Groceries

2-person household, moderate spending

$480/mo

Road Quality Rank

#20 of 50

Airports & Travel

Sources: FAA · BTS

▾

Nonstop Destinations

From state's primary airport

45+ routes

Major Hub Airport

Regional airport — connections via hub

Culture & Lifestyle

Sources: Census CBP · Brewers Association 2024 · Pollstar · AANR/TNS · AGA 2024

▾

Urban Population

Mix of urban and rural

71% urban

Restaurant Density

Limited dining options

380/100K

Religious Congregations

190/100K

Pro Sports Teams

NFL + NBA + MLB + NHL + MLS

None

Major Venues

Stadiums, arenas, amphitheaters (10K+ capacity)

2 venues

Craft Breweries

4.3/100K residents — Strong scene

80 breweries

Craft Distilleries

30 distilleries

Live Music

Boise growing indie scene; Sun Valley Jazz Festival; strong craft beer per capita

Decent

Transportation

Sources: NHTSA FARS · FCC · insurance rate surveys 2024 · IIHS helmet laws 2026

▾

Car Insurance (Avg Annual)

Below national avg

$1,070

Traffic Fatality Rate

15.1 / 100K

Broadband Access

82% of households

Work From Home

State residents who primarily work from home (ACS)

93,399 workers

Social & Legal

Sources: Guttmacher · KFF · NCSL · state statutes 2026

▾

Formal Volunteering Rate

AmeriCorps / Census CPS 2023 (US ~28%)

34.4%

Votes in Local Elections

AmeriCorps / Census CPS 2023

58.2%

Abortion Access

Near-total ban with narrow exceptions

Banned

LGBTQ+ Protections

Hostile

Marijuana

Illegal

Minimum Wage

$7.25/hr

Right to Work

Yes

Sports Betting

Illegal

Casino Gambling

Tribal casinos

Online Gambling

Illegal

State Lottery

Tribal casinos only. Constitution limits commercial gambling. Horse racing legal.

Yes

Age of Consent

Sex Education

No state sex ed mandate

Abstinence-only

Nude Beaches & Naturist Clubs

Idaho naturists use remote forest and hot springs areas

One club

Environment & Climate

Sources: EPA AQI · NOAA · FEMA National Risk Index

▾

Air Quality (Annual AQI)

Near national avg

Natural Disaster Risk

Moderate

Primary Hazards

wildfireearthquake

Politics & Gun Laws

Sources: OpenElections 2024 · Giffords 2025 · state statutes

▾

2024 Presidential Vote

R+30

Gun Laws

Gun ControlF

2A LibertyA+

Carry Permit

No permit required

Purchase Permit Required

Carry in Bars

Allowed

Carry in Restaurants

Allowed

Carry in Places of Worship

No state prohibition; posting governs.

Allowed

Gambling

Not Legal

Hunting & Outdoors

Sources: state wildlife agencies · USFS · BLM · USFWS (May 2026)

▾

Public Land33% of state

Resident Deer License$30

Resident Elk Tag$30

Non-Resident Elk$626

Deer Archery SeasonAug 30 – Sep 30

Elk Archery SeasonAug 30 – Sep 29

CrossbowArchery season

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...

From r/hunting

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I hunt 3-4 weeks in my home state of Idaho already. I'm pretty consistently successful with elk, not so much for deer. Usually 2-3 elk for m...

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Any advice for planning my first Idaho hunt?

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Buddy's uncle got a elk Sunday in Idaho. Absolute unit : r/Hunting

It's excellent hunting but it can be difficult, tons of public land to hunt, but you pretty much have to be willing to spend a week living o...

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Shot my elk on Saturday, and finished up with the last pack ...

Shot my elk on Saturday, and finished up with the last pack out trip this afternoon. I'm probably good for at least another year before I .....

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Jobs & Economy

Sources: BLS QCEW 2024 · BLS JOLTS 2024 · BLS union membership 2025 · Census ACS

▾

Job Openings Rate (JOLTS)

Near US average (~4.5%)

4.9%

Quits Rate (JOLTS)

Workers quit when they can find better; BLS 2024 average

2.6%

Job Market

+2.4% job growth · 3.1% unemployment

Strong

Top Industries

AgricultureHealthcareTechnology

Tech Jobs

#28 of 50

Healthcare Jobs

#32 of 50

Remote Work

19% of workers

Median Household Income

$70,214

Union Membership

Among the least unionized states (BLS 2025)

4.1% of workers

Business Climate

Sources: Tax Foundation · state filings

▾

Corporate Income Tax

5.8%

LLC Formation Fee

$100 one-time

LLC Annual Fee

None

Business Climate Rank

Top-10 nationally (Tax Foundation SBTCI 2024)

#8 of 50

Daily Life

Sources: American Pyrotechnics Association · state statutes 2026 · IIHS

▾

Gas Price (Regular)

Below avg (-0.08 vs national avg)

$3.22/gal

Consumer Fireworks

Most consumer fireworks legal; local restrictions vary

Legal

Motorcycle Helmet Law

Required under 18 (IIHS 2026)

Age-Limited

Weather & Natural Risks

Sources: NOAA · NWS Storm Prediction Center · FEMA NRI

▾

Winter Severity

Avg January high: 35°F

Cold

Summer Heat

Hot summers

90°F avg July

Annual Rainfall

19" / yr

Tornado Risk

Very Low

Hurricane Risk

Very Low

Wildfire Risk

High

Flood Risk

Low

Natural Hazards

Sources: USGS · CDC · USDA APHIS · NOAA · FEMA NRI 2023

▾

32MODERATE danger

Murder hornet expansion zoneWildfire HIGHWestern rattlesnake territory

Venomous Snakes

Moderate

Spider Hazard

Moderate

Scorpions

Low

Hurricane Risk

Minimal

Tornado Risk

Low

Wildfire Risk

High

Earthquake Risk

Moderate

Murder Hornets

Active Expansion Zone

Danger score is a composite index. Methodology ↗

Veteran Benefits

Sources: VA.gov · Military.com state guide · Tax Foundation

▾

Veteran-Friendly Score

9.8% of state population are veterans

80/100

Property Tax Exemption

Up to $1,500 exemption

Partial

Military Retirement Pay

Tax Exempt

Active Duty Pay

Tax Exempt

VA Facilities Access

Adequate

Notable Benefits

Military retirement fully exempt

Explore Idaho counties

Income, housing, poverty, healthcare — ranked by county

Explore Counties

See your full cost of living in Idaho

Housing, taxes, childcare, insurance — all estimated.

Calculate

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ID vs TX

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What Residents Say

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cost of living is a big one. Local income tax not considered. Home prices, foods etc.. not considered phones taxes may be just as high. No ......

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Value of moving to states with no state income tax

For me it was still worth it, as I travel for work so my income level stayed the same, but taxes and cost of living went down. The numbers ......

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Idaho will change its laws. We'll email you when it does.

One email when Idaho changes a tax, gun, cannabis or abortion law. Unsubscribe in one click.

Idaho Guides

relocation

Moving to Idaho: The Pandemic Migration That Stuck

Idaho absorbed one of the largest per-capita population surges of any state during the early 2020s, …

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.