Idaho cities

The best places to live in Idaho

Idaho's largest cities ranked on cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life. Ammon leads the list.

We scored Idaho's cities on the same factors as our state rankings, then ranked them. Below are the 10 largest by population. Two scores per city: value (what you get for the cost) and overall livability (everything combined). Tap any city for its full profile.

#CityMedian homeRentValueOverall
3 Meridian $349,400 $1,318 67 73
6 Boise City $322,300 $1,103 44 60
7 Post Falls $286,800 $1,098 55 55
8 Caldwell $218,100 $939 46 50
10 Coeur d'Alene $309,000 $1,084 32 49
11 Idaho Falls $204,600 $856 56 46
13 Lewiston $222,000 $787 46 42
14 Nampa $223,100 $1,073 42 36
16 Pocatello $165,900 $714 53 27
17 Twin Falls $192,900 $837 47 27

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Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income and jobs from the U.S. Census; schools from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. Rankings are within Idaho. Updated 2026.