#1Montpelier
Bear Lake County · 2,710 peopleCost of living grade, homes cost 3.9 years of area income·Overall A · #3 of 58 in ID
Montpelier, #1 on this list · John A. Bagley House · Photo: William R Sterling · CC BY-SA 3.0Idaho rankings · Cost of living
Most affordable towns in Idaho
Montpelier ranks first on cost of living among Idaho’s 59 towns of 2,500+; 5 of the 59 grade A− or better on cost of living nationally.
The Cost of living grade: home values, rent and property-tax bills against the income of the town’s metro area or county, and the share of households paying 30%+ of income for housing (Census ACS). How grades work
#1A
#2Fort Hall
unincorporated, Bannock County · 2,654 peopleCost of living grade, homes cost 6.0 years of area income·Overall C− · #51 of 58 in ID
#3American Falls
Power County · 4,785 peopleCost of living grade, homes cost 4.4 years of area income·Overall B− · #31 of 58 in ID
All 59 towns
Cost of living grade, best first (the letter is national). Towns with the same score share a rank; the overall grade and state rank are beside each.
59 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.
#TownGradeHome price · overall
2Fort Hallunincorporated, Bannock County · 2,654 peopleA6.0 years of area income·Overall C− · #51 of 58
15Lincolnunincorporated, Bonneville County · 4,002 peopleB4.7 years of area income·Overall A− · #7 of 58
59Mountain Home AFBunincorporated, Elmore County · 3,219 peopleD−among the lowest in the U.S.·Overall C− · #53 of 58
Quick answers
Questions people ask
What is the most affordable town in Idaho?
Montpelier (Bear Lake County) ranks first on cost of living among 59 towns, with an A; Fort Hall and American Falls follow.
How are these towns ranked?
The Cost of living grade: home values, rent and property-tax bills against the income of the town’s metro area or county, and the share of households paying 30%+ of income for housing (Census ACS). Towns are sorted on the grade’s score; the letter and rank are the same as on each town’s page. How grades work.
Why isn’t my town on this list?
The list covers towns of 2,500+ residents with a cost of living grade (59 in Idaho). Smaller towns have the grade on their page but no rank. Every town is on the Idaho page.
Go deeper
All Idaho rankings →More Idaho lists
Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.
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