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Cost & Benefits

Most affordable towns in Idaho, 2026

Chubbuck is the most affordable ranked town in Idaho. Rent, the regional price level, taxes, and electricity are 22.5% each. Gasoline is 10%. A lower score is more affordable.

Summary

36
Towns ranked in Idaho.
Chubbuck
Number 1 in Idaho. Rent is 15.2% of income. National rank 95.
19.4%
Median rent share among ranked towns in Idaho.
1
Ranked Idaho town in the national top 100.
Hayden
Least affordable ranked town in Idaho. Rent is 25.1% of income. National rank 2978.

Gasoline

$4.575

per gallon. EIA does not publish a Idaho price. This is the Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) price for the week of October 12, 2026. At 12,000 miles a year and 25 mpg, that is $2,196.00 a year for every ranked town in Idaho.

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Cost & Benefits. "2026 Most Affordable Towns Index: Idaho." October 16, 2026. https://costandbenefits.com/reports/most-affordable-towns-2026/idaho

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Benefits and taxes in Idaho

Top 25

  1. #1 in Idaho · National #95

    Chubbuck

    Rent share 15.2% · Price level 88.9 · Score 0.185

    Median rent is $1,048 a month and median income is $82,977, so rent is 15.2% of income, under the 19.4% median for ranked towns in Idaho. The Pocatello, ID metro price level is 88.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.575 a gallon (Rocky Mountain (PADD 4)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  2. #2 in Idaho · National #135

    Kimberly

    Rent share 13.8% · Price level 92.1 · Score 0.198

    Median rent is $1,127 a month and median income is $97,799, so rent is 13.8% of income, under the 19.4% median for ranked towns in Idaho. The Twin Falls, ID metro price level is 92.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.575 a gallon (Rocky Mountain (PADD 4)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  3. #3 in Idaho · National #232

    Jerome

    Rent share 17.0% · Price level 92.1 · Score 0.220

    Median rent is $947 a month and median income is $66,894, so rent is 17.0% of income, under the 19.4% median for ranked towns in Idaho. The Twin Falls, ID metro price level is 92.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.575 a gallon (Rocky Mountain (PADD 4)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  4. #4 in Idaho · National #252

    Lewiston

    Rent share 17.1% · Price level 91.2 · Score 0.223

    Median rent is $1,027 a month and median income is $72,197, so rent is 17.1% of income, under the 19.4% median for ranked towns in Idaho. The Lewiston, ID-WA metro price level is 91.2 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.575 a gallon (Rocky Mountain (PADD 4)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  5. #5 in Idaho · National #304

    Pocatello

    Rent share 18.8% · Price level 88.9 · Score 0.233

    Median rent is $948 a month and median income is $60,418, so rent is 18.8% of income, under the 19.4% median for ranked towns in Idaho. The Pocatello, ID metro price level is 88.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.575 a gallon (Rocky Mountain (PADD 4)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  6. #6 in Idaho · National #310

    Fruitland

    Rent share 14.6% · Price level 95.5 · Score 0.235

    Median rent is $798 a month and median income is $65,457, so rent is 14.6% of income, under the 19.4% median for ranked towns in Idaho. The Idaho state price level is 95.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.575 a gallon (Rocky Mountain (PADD 4)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  7. #7 in Idaho · National #340

    Blackfoot

    Rent share 15.7% · Price level 95.5 · Score 0.239

    Median rent is $839 a month and median income is $64,032, so rent is 15.7% of income, under the 19.4% median for ranked towns in Idaho. The Idaho state price level is 95.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.575 a gallon (Rocky Mountain (PADD 4)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  8. #8 in Idaho · National #445

    Rigby

    Rent share 16.6% · Price level 94.4 · Score 0.250

    Median rent is $1,180 a month and median income is $85,056, so rent is 16.6% of income, under the 19.4% median for ranked towns in Idaho. The Idaho Falls, ID metro price level is 94.4 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.575 a gallon (Rocky Mountain (PADD 4)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  9. #9 in Idaho · National #474

    Preston

    Rent share 15.9% · Price level 95.9 · Score 0.254

    Median rent is $811 a month and median income is $61,039, so rent is 15.9% of income, under the 19.4% median for ranked towns in Idaho. The Logan, UT-ID metro price level is 95.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.575 a gallon (Rocky Mountain (PADD 4)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  10. #10 in Idaho · National #558

    Idaho Falls

    Rent share 17.6% · Price level 94.4 · Score 0.265

    Median rent is $1,075 a month and median income is $73,110, so rent is 17.6% of income, under the 19.4% median for ranked towns in Idaho. The Idaho Falls, ID metro price level is 94.4 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.575 a gallon (Rocky Mountain (PADD 4)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  11. #11 in Idaho · National #570

    Burley

    Rent share 17.5% · Price level 95.5 · Score 0.267

    Median rent is $984 a month and median income is $67,468, so rent is 17.5% of income, under the 19.4% median for ranked towns in Idaho. The Idaho state price level is 95.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.575 a gallon (Rocky Mountain (PADD 4)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  12. #12 in Idaho · National #708

    Middleton

    Rent share 15.5% · Price level 98.4 · Score 0.279

    Median rent is $1,147 a month and median income is $89,013, so rent is 15.5% of income, under the 19.4% median for ranked towns in Idaho. The Boise City, ID metro price level is 98.4 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.575 a gallon (Rocky Mountain (PADD 4)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  13. #13 in Idaho · National #721

    Payette

    Rent share 18.2% · Price level 95.5 · Score 0.281

    Median rent is $837 a month and median income is $55,208, so rent is 18.2% of income, under the 19.4% median for ranked towns in Idaho. The Idaho state price level is 95.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.575 a gallon (Rocky Mountain (PADD 4)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  14. #14 in Idaho · National #755

    Rupert

    Rent share 18.8% · Price level 95.5 · Score 0.284

    Median rent is $856 a month and median income is $54,741, so rent is 18.8% of income, under the 19.4% median for ranked towns in Idaho. The Idaho state price level is 95.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.575 a gallon (Rocky Mountain (PADD 4)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  15. #15 in Idaho · National #928

    Ammon

    Rent share 19.1% · Price level 94.4 · Score 0.298

    Median rent is $1,372 a month and median income is $86,121, so rent is 19.1% of income, under the 19.4% median for ranked towns in Idaho. The Idaho Falls, ID metro price level is 94.4 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.575 a gallon (Rocky Mountain (PADD 4)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  16. #16 in Idaho · National #985

    Twin Falls

    Rent share 21.2% · Price level 92.1 · Score 0.302

    Median rent is $1,082 a month and median income is $61,205, so rent is 21.2% of income, over the 19.4% median for ranked towns in Idaho. The Twin Falls, ID metro price level is 92.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.575 a gallon (Rocky Mountain (PADD 4)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  17. #17 in Idaho · National #1080

    Sandpoint

    Rent share 18.7% · Price level 95.5 · Score 0.309

    Median rent is $1,125 a month and median income is $72,289, so rent is 18.7% of income, under the 19.4% median for ranked towns in Idaho. The Idaho state price level is 95.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.575 a gallon (Rocky Mountain (PADD 4)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  18. #18 in Idaho · National #1122

    Shelley

    Rent share 19.6% · Price level 95.5 · Score 0.312

    Median rent is $1,265 a month and median income is $77,563, so rent is 19.6% of income, over the 19.4% median for ranked towns in Idaho. The Idaho state price level is 95.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.575 a gallon (Rocky Mountain (PADD 4)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  19. #19 in Idaho · National #1205

    Moscow

    Rent share 19.5% · Price level 95.5 · Score 0.317

    Median rent is $927 a month and median income is $57,022, so rent is 19.5% of income, over the 19.4% median for ranked towns in Idaho. The Idaho state price level is 95.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.575 a gallon (Rocky Mountain (PADD 4)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  20. #20 in Idaho · National #1384

    Eagle

    Rent share 17.2% · Price level 98.4 · Score 0.329

    Median rent is $1,765 a month and median income is $122,894, so rent is 17.2% of income, under the 19.4% median for ranked towns in Idaho. The Boise City, ID metro price level is 98.4 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.575 a gallon (Rocky Mountain (PADD 4)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  21. #21 in Idaho · National #1469

    Hailey

    Rent share 19.3% · Price level 95.5 · Score 0.335

    Median rent is $1,460 a month and median income is $90,760, so rent is 19.3% of income, under the 19.4% median for ranked towns in Idaho. The Idaho state price level is 95.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.575 a gallon (Rocky Mountain (PADD 4)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  22. #22 in Idaho · National #1717

    Mountain Home

    Rent share 22.0% · Price level 95.5 · Score 0.351

    Median rent is $1,155 a month and median income is $63,125, so rent is 22.0% of income, over the 19.4% median for ranked towns in Idaho. The Idaho state price level is 95.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.575 a gallon (Rocky Mountain (PADD 4)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  23. #23 in Idaho · National #1881

    Rathdrum

    Rent share 20.2% · Price level 98.3 · Score 0.362

    Median rent is $1,459 a month and median income is $86,563, so rent is 20.2% of income, over the 19.4% median for ranked towns in Idaho. The Coeur d'Alene, ID metro price level is 98.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.575 a gallon (Rocky Mountain (PADD 4)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  24. #24 in Idaho · National #1920

    Caldwell

    Rent share 20.8% · Price level 98.4 · Score 0.364

    Median rent is $1,264 a month and median income is $73,058, so rent is 20.8% of income, over the 19.4% median for ranked towns in Idaho. The Boise City, ID metro price level is 98.4 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.575 a gallon (Rocky Mountain (PADD 4)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  25. #25 in Idaho · National #1995

    Emmett

    Rent share 21.3% · Price level 98.4 · Score 0.370

    Median rent is $1,042 a month and median income is $58,750, so rent is 21.3% of income, over the 19.4% median for ranked towns in Idaho. The Boise City, ID metro price level is 98.4 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.575 a gallon (Rocky Mountain (PADD 4)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

Least affordable 10

  1. #36 in Idaho · National #2978

    Hayden

    Rent share 25.1% · Price level 98.3 · Score 0.439

    Median rent is $1,733 a month and median income is $82,958, so rent is 25.1% of income, over the 19.4% median for ranked towns in Idaho. The Coeur d'Alene, ID metro price level is 98.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.575 a gallon (Rocky Mountain (PADD 4)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  2. #35 in Idaho · National #2868

    Coeur d'Alene

    Rent share 24.4% · Price level 98.3 · Score 0.430

    Median rent is $1,468 a month and median income is $72,338, so rent is 24.4% of income, over the 19.4% median for ranked towns in Idaho. The Coeur d'Alene, ID metro price level is 98.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.575 a gallon (Rocky Mountain (PADD 4)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  3. #34 in Idaho · National #2806

    Star

    Rent share 23.6% · Price level 98.4 · Score 0.426

    Median rent is $1,924 a month and median income is $97,936, so rent is 23.6% of income, over the 19.4% median for ranked towns in Idaho. The Boise City, ID metro price level is 98.4 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.575 a gallon (Rocky Mountain (PADD 4)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  4. #33 in Idaho · National #2511

    Garden City

    Rent share 22.6% · Price level 98.4 · Score 0.404

    Median rent is $1,323 a month and median income is $70,124, so rent is 22.6% of income, over the 19.4% median for ranked towns in Idaho. The Boise City, ID metro price level is 98.4 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.575 a gallon (Rocky Mountain (PADD 4)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  5. #32 in Idaho · National #2467

    Nampa

    Rent share 22.9% · Price level 98.4 · Score 0.401

    Median rent is $1,420 a month and median income is $74,279, so rent is 22.9% of income, over the 19.4% median for ranked towns in Idaho. The Boise City, ID metro price level is 98.4 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.575 a gallon (Rocky Mountain (PADD 4)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  6. #31 in Idaho · National #2378

    Rexburg

    Rent share 23.8% · Price level 95.5 · Score 0.395

    Median rent is $1,004 a month and median income is $50,617, so rent is 23.8% of income, over the 19.4% median for ranked towns in Idaho. The Idaho state price level is 95.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.575 a gallon (Rocky Mountain (PADD 4)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  7. #30 in Idaho · National #2377

    Kuna

    Rent share 22.1% · Price level 98.4 · Score 0.395

    Median rent is $1,774 a month and median income is $96,219, so rent is 22.1% of income, over the 19.4% median for ranked towns in Idaho. The Boise City, ID metro price level is 98.4 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.575 a gallon (Rocky Mountain (PADD 4)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  8. #29 in Idaho · National #2311

    Meridian

    Rent share 21.5% · Price level 98.4 · Score 0.391

    Median rent is $1,805 a month and median income is $100,795, so rent is 21.5% of income, over the 19.4% median for ranked towns in Idaho. The Boise City, ID metro price level is 98.4 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.575 a gallon (Rocky Mountain (PADD 4)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  9. #28 in Idaho · National #2213

    Post Falls

    Rent share 21.4% · Price level 98.3 · Score 0.386

    Median rent is $1,469 a month and median income is $82,183, so rent is 21.4% of income, over the 19.4% median for ranked towns in Idaho. The Coeur d'Alene, ID metro price level is 98.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.575 a gallon (Rocky Mountain (PADD 4)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  10. #27 in Idaho · National #2144

    Weiser

    Rent share 24.6% · Price level 95.5 · Score 0.381

    Median rent is $927 a month and median income is $45,292, so rent is 24.6% of income, over the 19.4% median for ranked towns in Idaho. The Idaho state price level is 95.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.73 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.575 a gallon (Rocky Mountain (PADD 4)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

The formula

A lower score is more affordable. Rent share, the regional price level, taxes, and electricity each count 22.5%. Gasoline counts 10%. Those weights are our choice. Gasoline stays at 10% because the miles figure is one national standard, not a measured town commute. This is not a government standard.

A percentile is the share of ranked towns with a strictly lower number, divided by the number of ranked towns minus one. The lowest number scores 0. Tied numbers share a percentile.

  1. Rent share = (median monthly rent × 12) / median household income. Both figures are the Census 2020–2024 medians for that place.
  2. RPP-adjusted cost is the BEA 2024 all-items regional price parity. A basket priced at 100 for the U.S. average costs this many dollars in the town's area. We use the metro index when the county is in a metro BEA publishes. Otherwise we use the state index and say so. This index includes housing, so housing also shows up in the rent share.
  3. Tax burden is the average of three percentiles. Income-tax share is state income tax plus the stored 2023 local AGI add-on, divided by the town's median household income, on a joint return. Property share is the state's median effective property-tax rate times the town's median home value, divided by income. Sales rate is the combined state and average local sales-tax rate. We do not turn the sales rate into dollars, because that would require a shopping basket we do not have.
  4. Electricity is the state residential price in cents per kilowatt-hour. Every town in a state shares it. We do not guess how many kilowatt-hours a home uses.
  5. Gasoline is the EIA retail price for all grades and all formulations, in dollars per gallon. Where EIA publishes a state series, we use that state. Every other state uses the PADD region EIA assigns to it. Census does not publish commuting miles for these towns, so annual gas spend is 12,000 miles a year divided by 25 miles per gallon, times the price. That is 480 gallons, the same for every town. Those miles are our standard, not an ACS figure and not a government mileage rule. Because the gallons do not change, the gas percentile is the percentile of the price.

    Weekly prices are for the week of October 12, 2026, from the EIA workbook released October 14, 2026. File: https://www.eia.gov/petroleum/gasdiesel/xls/pswrgvwall.xls. Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, and Oregon use West Coast (PADD 5) Except California. That series is not in the weekly workbook, so those five use the monthly price dated September 15, 2026. File: https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_pri_gnd_a_epm0_pte_dpgal_m.htm.

    • State series, week of October 12, 2026: California, Colorado, Florida, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Texas, Washington.
    • Central Atlantic (PADD 1B), week of October 12, 2026: Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania.
    • Gulf Coast (PADD 3), week of October 12, 2026: Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico.
    • Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C), week of October 12, 2026: Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia.
    • Midwest (PADD 2), week of October 12, 2026: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Wisconsin.
    • New England (PADD 1A), week of October 12, 2026: Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont.
    • Rocky Mountain (PADD 4), week of October 12, 2026: Idaho, Montana, Utah, Wyoming.
    • West Coast (PADD 5) Except California, September 15, 2026: Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon.

Score = 0.225 × rent percentile + 0.225 × price-level percentile + 0.225 × tax score + 0.225 × electricity percentile + 0.10 × gasoline percentile. Rank 1 is the lowest score. If scores tie, the lower rent share wins, then the lower price level, then the place slug in A-to-Z order.

Questions

What is the most affordable town in Idaho in this index?

Chubbuck is number 1 of 36 ranked towns in Idaho. Median rent is 15.2% of median income. Its national rank is 95.

How many towns in Idaho were ranked?

36 towns in Idaho have at least 5,000 people and published Census rent, income, and home value. Places missing one of those figures are left out.

Does this ranking approve benefits in Idaho?

No. Cost & Benefits does not approve or deny benefits. The score is a cost comparison only.