Best overall
Oneida County
Overall score 71.4
Economy 71.4 / Affordability 53.5
State rankings
Best Counties to Live in Idaho
Compare counties in Idaho by affordability, schools, safety, taxes, economy, home values, and quality-of-life tradeoffs.
Use the county-size filter to compare large metro counties, mid-size counties, small counties, and rural areas separately. These modules are a starting point, then you can open the full rankings table or compare individual counties.
County size
County size helps compare places with similar scale. Large metro counties and small rural counties can rank well for very different reasons.
Showing all 44 Idaho counties
Use this state ranking
Compare counties in Idaho
Put Idaho counties side by side.
Estimate moving costs
Compare housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, insurance, and tax-pressure estimates.
Open Idaho rankings
Open the full Idaho ranking table with filters.
Explore on the map
Scan county scores geographically across the country.
Idaho county rankings at a glance
Compact winners for common county-search priorities.
Best for families
Bannock County
Family score 78.3
Schools 85.7 / Safety 99.1
Best value
Oneida County
Value score 74.0
Affordability 53.5 / Taxes 91.1
Most affordable
Butte County
Affordability 58.2
Typical home $217,600
Best schools
Valley County
Schools 94.3
Safety 79.7 / Economy 65.5
Safest
Bannock County
Safety 99.1
Schools 85.7 / Peace 91.6
Low taxes
Clark County
Taxes 95.7
Affordability 38.1 / Typical home $258,957
Peace & quiet
Power County
Peace & Quiet 98.9
Density and built-environment signals
Top counties by category
Use these short lists to jump into the state rankings that match your priorities.
Best overall counties in Idaho
View full- 1Oneida County
Typical home $336,708
71.4
Overall
- 2Jefferson County
Typical home $465,392
70.6
Overall
- 3Bannock County
Typical home $352,606
69.1
Overall
- 4Ada County
Typical home $521,625
68.8
Overall
- 5Blaine County
Typical home $1,084,018
66.9
Overall
Best counties for families in Idaho
View full- 1Bannock County
Typical home $352,606
78.3
Family
- 2Latah County
Typical home $464,968
73.6
Family
- 3Madison County
Typical home $411,979
73.6
Family
- 4Jefferson County
Typical home $465,392
73.4
Family
- 5Oneida County
Typical home $336,708
73.2
Family
Best value counties in Idaho
View full- 1Oneida County
Typical home $336,708
74.0
Value
- 2Minidoka County
Typical home $323,367
71.4
Value
- 3Cassia County
Typical home $344,658
70.9
Value
- 4Lincoln County
Typical home $318,970
70.3
Value
- 5Butte County
Typical home $217,600
70.1
Value
Most affordable counties in Idaho
View full- 1Butte County
Typical home $217,600
58.2
Afford.
- 2Power County
Typical home $267,828
56.4
Afford.
- 3Oneida County
Typical home $336,708
53.5
Afford.
- 4Lincoln County
Typical home $318,970
52.5
Afford.
- 5Minidoka County
Typical home $323,367
47.9
Afford.
Best school counties in Idaho
View full- 1Valley County
Typical home $675,255
94.3
Schools
- 2Latah County
Typical home $464,968
91.1
Schools
- 3Madison County
Typical home $411,979
90.7
Schools
- 4Kootenai County
Typical home $596,723
90.4
Schools
- 5Bannock County
Typical home $352,606
85.7
Schools
Lowest tax-score counties in Idaho
View full- 1Clark County
Typical home $258,957
95.7
Taxes
- 2Bear Lake County
Typical home $386,602
94.5
Taxes
- 3Idaho County
Typical home $353,958
94.4
Taxes
- 4Custer County
Typical home $384,183
93.6
Taxes
- 5Lincoln County
Typical home $318,970
92.3
Taxes
Quietest counties in Idaho
View full- 1Power County
Typical home $267,828
98.9
Quiet
- 2Cassia County
Typical home $344,658
96.7
Quiet
- 3Minidoka County
Typical home $323,367
95.8
Quiet
- 4Washington County
Typical home $380,273
95.1
Quiet
- 5Twin Falls County
Typical home $377,542
94.7
Quiet
Safest counties in Idaho
View full- 1Bannock County
Typical home $352,606
99.1
Safety
- 2Caribou County
Typical home $330,406
98
Safety
- 3Blaine County
Typical home $1,084,018
97.4
Safety
- 4Nez Perce County
Typical home $384,386
96.8
Safety
- 5Fremont County
Typical home $471,061
96.6
Safety
Popular Idaho county comparisons
Put two counties side by side before you narrow the search.
How to choose a county in Idaho
The best county in Idaho depends on what you need most. Families may care more about schools and safety, budget-focused movers may care more about affordability and taxes, and quiet-living households may care more about density and peace & quiet. Large counties and rural counties can rank well for very different reasons, so use the county-size filter to compare places with similar scale.
Best for different needs
Best overall counties in Idaho
For best overall counties in Idaho, Oneida County, Jefferson County, and Bannock County stand out in this model because they combine several public-data signals instead of winning on only one category.
View this rankingBest counties for families in Idaho
For families, Bannock County, Latah County, and Madison County score well in the family blend of schools, safety, affordability, taxes, economy, and peace & quiet.
View this rankingMost affordable counties in Idaho
For affordability-focused movers, Butte County, Power County, and Oneida County may appeal because they score well on housing and income tradeoff signals in the current model.
View this rankingBest school counties in Idaho
For school-first households, Valley County, Latah County, and Madison County lead the current school score, though families should still compare district-level details.
View this rankingBest low-tax counties in Idaho
For lower tax-pressure searches, Clark County, Bear Lake County, and Idaho County score well on the tax model, but buyers should still check local property taxes and carrying costs.
View this rankingBest quiet counties in Idaho
For quieter-living searches, Power County, Cassia County, and Minidoka County stand out on peace & quiet signals such as density and built-environment indicators.
View this rankingWhat to watch before moving to Idaho
Compare county scale carefully in Idaho; large metro counties and rural counties can rank well for very different reasons.
Check town-level housing costs, commute patterns, school districts, and local services before making a final move decision.
Frequently asked questions about the best counties in Idaho
What is the best county to live in Idaho?
The best county depends on your priorities. In this ranking model, Oneida County currently scores highest overall, but families, budget-focused movers, and quiet-living households may prefer different counties.
What is the best county in Idaho for families?
Based on the family ranking blend of schools, safety, affordability, taxes, economy, and peace & quiet, Bannock County stands out in this model.
What is the most affordable county in Idaho?
Butte County scores highly on affordability in this model, but buyers should still compare home prices, taxes, insurance, commute costs, and local job access.
How should I compare large and small counties?
Use the county-size filter. Large metro counties and small rural counties can rank well for very different reasons, so comparing similar county sizes usually gives a more realistic shortlist.
Are these rankings based on reviews?
No. These rankings use public-data signals such as affordability, schools, safety, taxes, economy, home values, and peace & quiet. Local reviews and personal visits should still be part of a final decision.
Which Idaho counties score well for schools or taxes?
Valley County currently leads the school-score view, while Clark County stands out on the tax-score view. Use the rankings presets to compare those priorities separately.
All Idaho counties
Showing all 44 Idaho counties ranked by the default generated overall score.
| Rank | County | Overall | Economy | Afford. | Schools | Safety | Taxes | Peace & Quiet | Typical home | Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oneida County FIPS 16071 | 71.4 | 71.4 | 53.5 | 68.6 | 85.5 | 91.1 | 89.6 | $336,708 | $74,954 |
| 2 | Jefferson County FIPS 16051 | 70.6 | 78.8 | 36.6 | 72 | 94.2 | 86.6 | 90.2 | $465,392 | $86,679 |
| 3 | Bannock County FIPS 16005 | 69.1 | 62.3 | 37.7 | 85.7 | 99.1 | 74.9 | 91.6 | $352,606 | $66,499 |
| 4 | Ada County FIPS 16001 | 68.8 | 83.2 | 25.9 | 83.2 | 94.8 | 76.5 | 59.6 | $521,625 | $91,502 |
| 5 | Blaine County FIPS 16013 | 66.9 | 83.9 | 6.2 | 85.4 | 97.4 | 85.8 | 83 | $1,084,018 | $92,566 |
| 6 | Bonneville County FIPS 16019 | 66.9 | 66.7 | 39.2 | 73 | 87.4 | 81.9 | 90 | $400,910 | $79,068 |
| 7 | Bear Lake County FIPS 16007 | 66.2 | 77.6 | 34.4 | 55.8 | 92.5 | 94.5 | 74.2 | $386,602 | $75,260 |
| 8 | Caribou County FIPS 16029 | 66.2 | 65.6 | 42.8 | 56.8 | 98 | 86.9 | 87.7 | $330,406 | $68,782 |
| 9 | Kootenai County FIPS 16055 | 65.3 | 70.6 | 15.1 | 90.4 | 89.2 | 83.3 | 80.7 | $596,723 | $81,861 |
| 10 | Butte County FIPS 16023 | 63.4 | 53.3 | 58.2 | 53 | 81.8 | 82.7 | 88 | $217,600 | $53,015 |
| 11 | Cassia County FIPS 16031 | 63.4 | 76.2 | 41.5 | 38.3 | 81.9 | 91.8 | 96.7 | $344,658 | $70,830 |
| 12 | Franklin County FIPS 16041 | 63.3 | 73.3 | 27 | 61.6 | 82.8 | 89.4 | 91 | $438,371 | $71,950 |
| 13 | Latah County FIPS 16057 | 62.9 | 61.6 | 15.2 | 91.1 | 90.6 | 72.4 | 93.6 | $464,968 | $65,424 |
| 14 | Valley County FIPS 16085 | 62.9 | 65.5 | 10.8 | 94.3 | 79.7 | 88.2 | 83.1 | $675,255 | $76,078 |
| 15 | Nez Perce County FIPS 16069 | 62.1 | 63.9 | 36.1 | 57.1 | 96.8 | 64.5 | 94.5 | $384,386 | $72,599 |
| 16 | Madison County FIPS 16065 | 61.5 | 54.3 | 14.3 | 90.7 | 95.2 | 75.1 | 87.6 | $411,979 | $60,160 |
| 17 | Twin Falls County FIPS 16083 | 61.5 | 69.1 | 33.1 | 48.4 | 94.5 | 73.8 | 94.7 | $377,542 | $67,409 |
| 18 | Bingham County FIPS 16011 | 60.7 | 65.7 | 44.1 | 32.6 | 88.6 | 88.1 | 91.8 | $381,816 | $77,878 |
| 19 | Canyon County FIPS 16027 | 60.6 | 74.5 | 36.4 | 40 | 92.8 | 79.1 | 60.3 | $414,203 | $76,488 |
| 20 | Minidoka County FIPS 16067 | 60.5 | 60.3 | 47.9 | 29.9 | 92.4 | 88.5 | 95.8 | $323,367 | $70,377 |
| 21 | Payette County FIPS 16075 | 60.1 | 62.8 | 27.2 | 50.8 | 92.8 | 90.1 | 89.4 | $411,024 | $67,673 |
| 22 | Idaho County FIPS 16049 | 59.6 | 56.4 | 35.3 | 52.1 | 82.8 | 94.4 | 87.7 | $353,958 | $66,325 |
| 23 | Bonner County FIPS 16017 | 59.1 | 54.7 | 13.6 | 79.3 | 88.8 | 87.2 | 82 | $648,285 | $66,979 |
| 24 | Boise County FIPS 16015 | 59 | 69.6 | 18 | 64.5 | 77.6 | 89.5 | 71.3 | $477,627 | $78,774 |
| 25 | Lincoln County FIPS 16063 | 58.2 | 65.6 | 52.5 | 23.1 | 70.2 | 92.3 | 84.9 | $318,970 | $71,453 |
| 26 | Lemhi County FIPS 16059 | 57.9 | 61 | 19.5 | 51.6 | 93.2 | 90.2 | 90 | $376,605 | $53,202 |
| 27 | Washington County FIPS 16087 | 57.4 | 47.9 | 24.4 | 59 | 94.7 | 85.5 | 95.1 | $380,273 | $54,000 |
| 28 | Gem County FIPS 16045 | 57.1 | 65.8 | 22 | 48.9 | 80 | 90.4 | 86 | $474,995 | $64,605 |
| 29 | Power County FIPS 16077 | 56.5 | 50.7 | 56.4 | 23.1 | 83.3 | 76.8 | 98.9 | $267,828 | $61,146 |
| 30 | Jerome County FIPS 16053 | 55.8 | 71.5 | 33.9 | 14.4 | 91.5 | 83 | 91.7 | $399,325 | $71,724 |
| 31 | Teton County FIPS 16081 | 55.2 | 91.1 | 13 | 15.4 | 89.2 | 90.7 | 73.3 | $864,221 | $99,805 |
| 32 | Elmore County FIPS 16039 | 53.2 | 61.7 | 33.2 | 21.3 | 84.4 | 79.7 | 92.1 | $355,620 | $65,359 |
| 33 | Fremont County FIPS 16043 | 53.1 | 61.2 | 12.5 | 35.5 | 96.6 | 92 | 78.6 | $471,061 | $72,683 |
| 34 | Camas County FIPS 16025 | 53 | 57.6 | 16.7 | 49.3 | 78.9 | 91.8 | 71.4 | $394,863 | $57,955 |
| 35 | Boundary County FIPS 16021 | 52.9 | 53.7 | 20.3 | 55.9 | 65 | 87.2 | 94.7 | $459,532 | $67,237 |
| 36 | Shoshone County FIPS 16079 | 52.8 | 43.6 | 45.1 | 28.3 | 83.4 | 80.2 | 88.8 | $271,213 | $55,527 |
| 37 | Gooding County FIPS 16047 | 52.7 | 66.2 | 34.9 | 13 | 75.5 | 88.5 | 92.7 | $353,516 | $63,559 |
| 38 | Clearwater County FIPS 16035 | 51.6 | 32.3 | 41.5 | 50.1 | 71.4 | 81.2 | 86.7 | $306,783 | $60,000 |
| 39 | Lewis County FIPS 16061 | 51.6 | 39.2 | 38.5 | 43.2 | 73.2 | 79.9 | 90.8 | $283,684 | $51,615 |
| 40 | Clark County FIPS 16033 | 50.4 | 41.4 | 38.1 | 18.8 | 88.4 | 95.7 | 79.1 | $258,957 | $55,208 |
| 41 | Owyhee County FIPS 16073 | 50 | 65.1 | 20.6 | 20.6 | 74.3 | 88.9 | 87.8 | $435,050 | $64,406 |
| 42 | Custer County FIPS 16037 | 49.7 | 51.2 | 22.1 | 35.9 | 70.6 | 93.6 | 84.2 | $384,183 | $67,574 |
| 43 | Adams County FIPS 16003 | 47.2 | 40.2 | 14.4 | 40.1 | 81.9 | 90.4 | 83.2 | $509,845 | $61,808 |
| 44 | Benewah County FIPS 16009 | 43.5 | 42.2 | 34.4 | 13.9 | 59.1 | 82.7 | 88.4 | $329,393 | $59,794 |