Offering desert landscapes, mountains, and lush forests, Idaho is a treasure trove for adventure lovers and nature enthusiasts. And it doesn't hurt that the state offers great economic opportunities as well.
Idaho has the 12th-highest homeownership rate in the nation according to the latest Census data because residents simply love it. It was also ranked by SmartAsset as one of the Best States for the Middle Class and for Homeowners. Among western states, Idaho has the cheapest cost of living, and it also has one of the highest college graduation rates in the county - almost 85%! If you’re ready to leave busy big city life behind and enjoy the great outdoors, Idaho is the place to go.
• Population: 1,754,208
• Median Income: $53,089
• Median Home Value: $270,963
• Average Market Rent: $1,130
• Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): Violent - 2.27%, Property - 14.61%, Total - 16.88%
1: Ketchum
2: Dalton Gardens
3: Star
4: Hailey
5: Bellevue
6: Eagle
7: Island Park
8: Sun Valley
9: Victor
10: Athol
1: Harrison
2: Island Park
3: Spirit Lake
4: Athol
5: Murtaugh
6: Marsing
7: Boise
8: Dover
9: Dalton Gardens
10: Coeur d'Alene
1: Garden City
2: Hauser
3: McCammon
4: Fairfield
5: Bonners Ferry
6: New Meadows
7: Grand View
8: American Falls
9: Harrison
10: Gooding
1: Murtaugh
2: Island Park
3: Arco
4: Ririe
5: Roberts
6: Cottonwood
7: Malta
8: Hazelton
9: Melba
10: Hollister
1: Dalton Gardens
2: McCall
3: Eagle
4: Troy
5: Star
6: Moscow
7: Hayden
8: Genesee
9: Murtaugh
10: Meridian
• Potatoes2
• Star Garnet Gemstones2
• Supplies the Majority of the Nation's Trout2
• State Horse: Appaloosa2
• Hells Canyon: Deepest River Gorge in North America2
• Split into 2 Time Zones2
• Snake & Columbia Rivers2
• Idaho Potato Bowl3
• 130 naturally hot springs3
• State Fruit: Huckleberries3
• Aaron Paul
• Sarah Palin
• Peter Cetera
• Ezra Pound
• Sacagawea
• Lana Turner
• Scout Willis
• Bowe Bergdahl
• Picabo Street
• Jon Huntsman, Sr.
Boise
Caldwell
Coeur d'Alene
Idaho Falls
Lewiston
Meridian
Nampa
Pocatello
Post Falls
Twin Falls
Boise
Caldwell
Coeur d'Alene
Idaho Falls
Lewiston
Meridian
Nampa
Pocatello
Post Falls
Twin Falls
In the meantime, a new study by United Van Lines shows California is ranked among the top 10 of "most moved from states" last year, coming in at number 7. One of the hot spots people are moving to? Boise, Idaho.
Idaho is the new frontier.In its latest ranking of the best places to buy a house, Wallethub crowned Idaho's capital, Boise, No. 1. Wallethub compared 300 real-estate markets across the US on dozens of factors relating to economic health and overall attractiveness to compile its list.
Forget New York City and San Francisco. Millennials are increasingly moving away from big coastal cities because of skyrocketing housing costs, Business Insider's Hillary Hoffower recently reported.