10 Best Places to Live in Idaho, According to Real Estate Experts

If your idea of a perfect weekend consists of skiing, hiking, fly fishing, or mountain biking, there’s a very good chance you’ll enjoy life in Idaho. A state known for its natural splendor and outdoorsy residents, Idaho attracts the kind of people who appreciate having room to roam. With a population density of just 24 people per square mile—one of the lowest in the country—elbow room is certainly plentiful. Even if you live in Boise, the state capital and the largest city in Idaho, you’re still within driving distance of beautiful mountains, rivers, and freshwater reservoirs; it’s really the best of both worlds.

To find the best places to live in Idaho this year, we polled a few local real estate experts with deep ties to the Gem State. Discover their top picks below.

Coeur d’Alene

The harbor in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

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“The city of Coeur d’Alene, set along the northern bank of Lake Coeur d’Alene, has stunning mountain views and access to many other nearby lakes and riverways,” Tyler Brown, a lifelong resident of Idaho and a real estate agent with Clearwater Properties, tells Travel + Leisure. “Coeur d’Alene could arguably be every outdoor enthusiast’s favorite place to be,” he adds, noting the opportunities for water-based activities, hiking, biking, and skiing at Silver Mountain, Schweitzer Mountain, and Lookout Pass.

There are also a couple of other factors that make this 57,355-person city so livable. “Coeur d’Alene has high-quality and accessible education options; North Idaho College, the University of Idaho, and Lewis & Clark State College all offer a wide array of continuing education courses,” he says (the latter two are located outside of the city).  “Comprehensive healthcare” options are another plus; Brown shares that Kootenai Health in the center of town has “everything you’d expect only to receive in a larger metropolitan area.” Home values have remained relatively consistent over the last couple of years, with the current average around $580,000, up just 0.4 percent from 2024.

Eagle

Fall colors in an Eagle, Idaho park.

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“Eagle is a tight-knit community with space to explore,” says Tedi Serge, a Boise-based real estate advisor. She credits its “access to elevated fitness studios, functional medicine practitioners, and locally owned restaurants and shops,” as well as its independent flower farm scene, for making it such a wonderful place to live. “From lavender to dahlias, ‘you-pick’ farms are a fun and wholesome way to spend an afternoon,” she says. This idyllic way of life doesn’t necessarily come cheap, though. The average home value in Eagle, a suburb in the Boise Foothills, is nearly $800,000.

Sandpoint

A view of Cedar Street Bridge in Sandpoint, Idaho.

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“Sandpoint is, simply put, breathtakingly beautiful,” says Lisa J. Cunningham, a realtor and new construction specialist with Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate 43º North. “It’s one of the most picturesque towns in the state and such a gorgeous place to both live and visit.” That beauty extends to both the downtown area—where you’ll find “turn-of-the-century brick and stone buildings with local shops, restaurants, bars, and breweries”—and the natural wonder that comes from its location on Lake Pend Oreille. While the winter season may bring snow, the warmer seasons allow for swimming and boating, fishing, hiking, and mountain biking.

Interested in calling Sandpoint your home? Cunningham has good news. “The real estate market in Sandpoint right now is great for buyers.” The median sale price is $485,000, and she says that comes with a “great Northern Idaho experience.”

Driggs

Businesses in Driggs, Idaho.

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“One of the best parts about living in Driggs is that you get access to Jackson Hole without the cost of living in Jackson,” says Cunningham. “It also has a great school system, lower cost of living, and is overall a safe place to live. It’s a great place to call home.” In the past few years, as people are discovering its proximity to the Tetons, Driggs has become more and more popular; the average home value is now around $790,000. If that fits within your price range, though, you’re in for a treat. “Driggs is a real gem. They have shops, boutiques, restaurants, and markets. Several of the restaurants and stores are local—very few franchises in the area, which adds to the charm,” Cunningham adds.

Boise

Traffic along a busy street in downtown Boise.

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“Boise has been on the rise as one of the best places to live in the U.S. for the last decade—and for good reason,” says Serge. “Known as the ‘City of Trees’ and home to the Boise State Broncos, Boise offers a quality lifestyle for outdoors enthusiasts with more than 190 miles of trails, a local ski hill, as well as a ton of amenities, offices, and housing options that appeal to techies and entrepreneurs, in particular.” The average home value in Boise is just over $490,000, and Zillow estimates that the average rent in Boise is $1,800, right around the national average. The nearly 238,000-person city is also the perfect balance of outdoor life and city dynamism. “By day, residents and tourists enjoy the Boise River, and by night, downtown offers fantastic food, lively bars, and music venues,” Serge adds.

Stanley

Residential buildings in Stanley, Idaho.

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“Stanley itself is an adorable mountain town. It’s not super robust as far as restaurants and shopping options, but the mercantile and few available restaurants and bars provide what you need,” says Cunningham. Ideal for a second or third home, Stanley is a place where you can go to fish, camp, boat on Stanley Lake, or soak in nearby hot springs. “It’s a great place to invest due to its proximity to the Sawtooth Mountains, nearby lakes, and higher-populated cities such as Boise and other Treasure Valley towns and cities,” she says. “It’s not the cheapest mountain town in Idaho, but you get what you pay for if you want to live among the Sawtooth Mountains.” The average home value in Stanley is just north of $700,000.

Post Falls

Aerial view of the riverfront in Post Falls, Idaho.

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“Post Falls is also an incredible place to live because of its proximity to everything Coeur d’Alene has to offer, but with an appealing smaller-town feel,” says Brown. “Set along the Spokane River and headed north out onto the prairie, Post Falls has many neighborhoods, schools, restaurants, and entertainment options to offer its residents.” Despite “fluctuating market conditions,” he also says “home pricing in Post Falls has been very fair over the years.” Currently, the average home value is around $515,000, and Redfin estimates the median sale price, as of September 2025, was around $483,000.

“The newly renovated and expanded Club at Prairie Falls is set alongside housing developments, all offering unmatched views of mountain peaks and golf course vistas, along with easy, meandering walking paths to use while you enjoy the scenery,” he adds. And, if you become a local, you’ll have your pick of restaurants and breweries for a night out; Brown recommends Sawmill Grille and Spirits, The White House Grill, Post Falls Brewing Company, and Capones Pub.

Caldwell

Scenic waterway through downtown Caldwell, Idaho.

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According to Cunningham, Caldwell, the Western entrance to Treasure Valley, is “one of the most up-and-coming areas” in the region. “Caldwell’s city government and growth plan is one of the best we have in this area. The city is really focused and methodical in enhancing the town, growing the city in a smart way, and bringing in a lot of good infrastructure, development, and opportunities,” she says. In the vibrant downtown area, you have brick and stone buildings plus an amphitheater for concerts, local restaurants, and a skating rink in the winter—the Boise River also runs through Caldwell. “The cost of living in Caldwell is low, and home prices are low; the median home price is well below $500,000, and average rent is under $1,500,” she says, adding that “the home prices are rising, making it a great time to get your foot in the door of a growing market.”

Rathdrum

A red barn near Rathdrum, Idaho.

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Brown calls Rathdrum a “sleepy little town with a lot of history and a very cozy feel” and a “wonderful place to purchase your first home and start a family.” It has a low crime rate, and home prices have leveled off since the immediate post-pandemic real estate boom. “With an even smaller-town feel than Post Falls, home prices in Rathdrum remain very reasonable,” he says, but now is the time to buy. “Recently, Rathdrum has been exploding with new development. There are several up-and-coming neighborhoods in Rathdrum close to the schools and beautiful parks.”

McCall

A bench along Payette Lake in McCall, Idaho park.

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“This small mountain town was built for sunny summer days on Payette Lake and bluebird days skiing Brundage Mountain, which is undergoing exciting developments this season and beyond,” says Serge. McCall is a place where, she adds, you can “indulge in true Idaho living by going for a walk through Ponderosa State Park with 200-foot-tall pine trees, hunt for natural hot springs and huckleberries, or enjoy leisurely bike rides through town to adorable lakeside coffee spots.” Ideal for those homebuyers or renters who don’t plan to travel too often—Boise Airport is about 2.5 hours away—McCall is perfect for relaxation, outdoor adventures, and, as Serge says, “resetting your nervous system lakeside.”