Moving to Idaho: City Guides, Checklist & Tips

Updated July 2026

SyringaState flowerWestern white pineState treeMonarch butterflyState insectBoiseCoeur d'AleneIdaho Falls

Idaho charges a flat 5.3% state income tax as of 2026, the result of five straight years of legislative rate cuts from a 2020 top rate of 7.4%. The state's population grew 1.4% in 2025 — the second-fastest rate in the country — and net migration from other states, led by Washington, California, and Utah, drove more than three-quarters of that growth. Idaho's typical home value runs about $481,000 statewide as of mid-2026, per Zillow, though the range is wide: Boise, the state's tech and government hub, sits well above that figure, while Idaho Falls, anchored by the Idaho National Laboratory, runs cheaper than the state average. This hub collects our city-by-city relocation guides for Idaho, plus the practical steps to become a resident — full guides for Boise, Coeur d'Alene, and Idaho Falls are in progress.

Idaho City Guides

Idaho Living and Vacationing Quick Reference

Living here

State income tax
A flat 5.3% as of 2026, down from a 7.4% top rate in 2020 after five years of legislative cuts
Sales tax
6% statewide, with local option taxes pushing some resort towns to 9%
Median home price
About $481,000 statewide as of mid-2026 per Zillow — around $508,000 in Boise, $400,000 in Idaho Falls
Cost of living
About 5.5% above the national average statewide, per BestPlaces — Boise runs above that, Idaho Falls well below it
Driver's license deadline
30 days after moving, per the Idaho Transportation Department
Population growth
Idaho grew 1.4% in 2025 — the second-fastest rate of any state — driven mostly by people moving in from other states

Visiting first

Main airport
Boise Airport (BOI); Coeur d'Alene and Idaho Falls both have smaller regional airports
Signature outdoors
Craters of the Moon National Monument, Sawtooth National Recreation Area, and Idaho's slice of Yellowstone in the east
Best scouting months
July through September for mountain access; expect snow and sub-freezing lows across much of the state by December
It's not just potatoes
Idaho does grow about a third of the nation's potatoes, but agriculture makes up only about 17% of the state economy — tech, nuclear research, and manufacturing carry the rest
Growth, honestly
Fast population growth has pushed home prices up in Boise and Coeur d'Alene faster than wages in some years — check current listings before assuming "affordable"
Getting around
No statewide passenger rail; Boise, Coeur d'Alene, and Idaho Falls are all car-dependent with limited local bus service

How Idaho Got Its Name

Idaho's name is not a Native American word, whatever the plaques say. In 1860, a mining lobbyist named George M. Willing proposed "Idaho" to Congress as a supposed Shoshone term meaning "gem of the mountains" for what became Colorado Territory — and Congress nearly adopted it before discovering the word was invented. Colorado got renamed Colorado; "Idaho" survived instead as the name of a Columbia River steamboat serving Pacific Northwest gold camps, and Congress recycled it for the new territory carved out in 1863. The state's military history is sturdier than its name: Farragut Naval Training Station, built on Lake Pend Oreille in 1942, trained nearly 300,000 sailors during World War II — at the time, one of the largest naval training centers in the world, despite Idaho having no coastline.

How to Become a Idaho Resident

Establishing residency unlocks a Idaho driver's license, vehicle registration, in-state tuition, and resident access to state parks and programs. You establish residency in Idaho by doing any one of the following — you don't need all of them:

Idaho Moving Checklist

Questions Movers Ask About Idaho

Does Idaho have a state income tax?

Yes — a flat 5.3% as of 2026. That is down from a top rate of 7.4% in 2020, the result of five separate rounds of legislative rate cuts, most recently House Bill 40 in 2025. Combined with a 6% statewide sales tax, Idaho's overall tax burden sits below the national average despite the income tax.

How expensive is it to live in Idaho?

About 5.5% above the national average statewide, according to BestPlaces, though the spread between cities is wide. Boise runs above the state average, driven by tech-sector growth and in-migration; Idaho Falls runs well below it. The statewide typical home value is about $481,000 as of mid-2026, per Zillow.

How long do I have to get an Idaho driver's license after moving?

30 days, per the Idaho Transportation Department. This applies whether your out-of-state license is still valid or has expired, and it covers both standard and commercial licenses.

Is Idaho really all potatoes?

Idaho does grow roughly a third of the nation's potato supply, and it is real money — over $1.3 billion a year. But agriculture as a whole makes up only about 17% of Idaho's economy. Boise's tech sector, the Idaho National Laboratory's nuclear research in Idaho Falls, and manufacturing employ far more people statewide than farming does.

When should I visit Idaho before deciding to move?

July through September gives the clearest look at the mountains, lakes, and outdoor access that draw people here — Craters of the Moon, the Sawtooths, and Idaho's corner of Yellowstone are all easiest to reach in that window. A winter visit is worth the trip too, since much of the state sees real snow and sub-freezing lows by December.

Which Idaho city should I move to?

It depends on what you need. Boise offers the deepest job market, especially in tech, with Mountain Home Air Force Base about 50 miles southeast for military families. Coeur d'Alene suits people prioritizing lake access and a slower pace in the Panhandle. Idaho Falls fits nuclear-research and energy-sector workers tied to the Idaho National Laboratory, at a noticeably lower cost of living. All three city guides are still in progress — check back for full cost-of-living and neighborhood breakdowns.

Moving to Idaho from Another State?

We compare the two states side by side — taxes, housing, and what changes on day one:

Sources and Data Notes

Residency options, license and vehicle-registration deadlines, and tax rates on this page reflect requirements published by the Idaho Transportation Department and the Idaho State Tax Commission. Cost, housing, and job-market figures draw on the public datasets used across ScoutLocale's city guides, including the U.S. Census Bureau, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BestPlaces.net, and Niche.com.

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