10 Best Places to Retire in Idaho

If it is time for your retirement and you are looking for quiet places to retire to in your very own neighborhood, take a look at this list of 10 best places to retire in Idaho. This list will provide you with details of cities in which you will certainly not regret spending your retirement fund. Nevertheless, if you really on the budget, but still wish to move further to another continent you can take a look at cheapest countries to retire in Europe, as well.

Idaho, also known as the ‘Gem State’ for the various sorts of gemstones found here, seems like a remote place to finally spend one’s saved cash, but the fact is, Idaho is an ideal place for recreation and outdoorsy activities. Therefore, for a nature loving retiree who loves hiking, skiing, biking, golfing and fishing, Idaho is the right fit. Another advantage that makes Idaho an attractive place to live is the fact that the cost of living (including housing, grocery, transportation, etc.) here is 1.9% less than the national average in the US.

If we talk about climate, however, winters in Idaho can be extremely cold with 44 inches of snow per year as compared to 25 inches in an average city in the US. Harsh winters may be a no-no for some, but the clean environment and low cost of health care in this state more than makes up for them. In fact, if one is retiring to Idaho for the outdoor facilities, then the snow might not be bothersome at all considering that skiing is one of its attractions.

Keeping all this in mind, we have collected our data from Sperling’s Best Places, and prepared a ranking of the best places to retire to in the Gem State. To make things a little easier, we have taken those cities into consideration which have been ranked highest by various portals, including Livability, Area Vibes, Niche, and Market watch. The factors that we have taken into account in this ranking include:

• Costs of living – we have considered whether or not these costs are lower than the national average;
• Number of physicians per 100,000 population;
• Crime rate – we have taken the crime rate on a scale of 1 to 100 comparing it to the US average of 41.4;
• Average one-way commute time

We have assigned a score to the selected cities based on each of the above factors, by ranking them individually in each category and then combining the score of all the factors. The highest score has resulted in the top ranked city in the following list of 10 best places to retire in Idaho.

10. Eagle

Cost of living: 24.9% above average

Number of physicians: 288

Average commute time: 21 minutes

Crime rate: 25

The city of Eagle, Idaho is expensive. Costs of living, as well as health care, are high, and the winters welcome an average of 56 inches of snow every year causing extreme climates. Nonetheless, it is an exceptionally safe city with low crime rates as well as a large number of available physicians. It also offers several enjoyments for retirees such as fly fishing on the Boise River and boating on the Payette River. Furthermore, it is home to the Eagle Island State Park which has many possible recreational activities like swimming, fishing, volleyball and picnicking.

9. Idaho Falls

Cost of living: 8.3% below average

Number of physicians: 201

Average commute time: 17 minutes

Crime rate: 52

Idaho Falls offers affordability, good health care, and recreation all in one. It is famous for trout fishing in the Snake River. Rainbow trout and cutthroat trout are the specialties of this area. Due to the Green Belt that runs for miles along the Snake River, hiking and biking have also become a good activity for those interested.

Art galleries, restaurants, and shopping malls are found as well, scattered all over this lively place.

8. Post Falls

Cost of living: 0.7% below average

Number of physicians: 256

Average commute time: 20.25 minutes to 25.44

Crime rate: 37 compared to average of 41.4

The biggest perk of this city is that it is only a 10-minute drive from the city of Coeur D’Alene and the twin cities combined offer many activities within a reasonable traveling distance. Golf courses, lakes, boutiques, and even common retailers are easily available in this area. The enjoyment in these activities further increases when one sees the low costs of groceries, health, utilities, transportation, etc. Even home prices are very low with the median home price being only $101,500.

7. Twin Falls

Cost of living: 9.2% below average

Number of physicians: 194

Average commute time: 14.85 minutes

Crime rate: 53

Twin Falls offers an exceptionally affordable and attractive healthcare system. The average commute time in this area is also a great convenience for the residents. The crime rate is a little high, but the overall living standards, as well as a large number of sunny days in the year, make this city a good place for retirees. The biggest appeal of this city is for the adventurous as parachuting from the Perrine Bridge (roughly 500 feet tall) is quite popular. 

6. Dalton Gardens

Cost of living: 25.5% above average

Number of physicians: 256

Average commute time: 17.4 minutes

Crime rate: 14

Dalton Gardens is an expensive place to live, but if safety and healthcare are important to you, then this city might be ideal for your golden years. A large number of physicians are easily available here, and the health cost is 3.7% below the national average. In addition to this, Dalton Gardens is a beautiful place with several recreational facilities and is only around a forty minute drive to Spokane, Washington.

5. Sandpoint

Cost of living: 0.9% above average

Number of physicians: 174

Average commute time: 13.79 minutes

Crime rate: 37

Sandpoint comes in at number 5 in this list of 10 best places to retire in Idaho. It is a safe place to retire to with its low crime rate. Secondly, traveling is much easier as a public bus carries residents through the city, free of cost.

The greatest charms of this place, however, are the Ski Mountains and resorts which make up for the low temperatures during the winter. This city attracts many ski enthusiasts due to this reason. The popular Lake Pend Oreille offers fishing opportunities as well. Along with these outdoor activities, the arts community is also developing in this city thanks to the Panida Theater, where concerts and plays are held on a regular basis, providing entertainment for the creative folks.

4. Pocatello

Cost of living: 9.1% below average

Number of physicians: 220

Average commute time: 17 minutes

Crime rate: 47

If your highest preference when considering a suitable place of retirement is affordability, then Pocatello is the perfect place for you. This city was part of the list of best places to live the good life under $30K published by the American Association of Retired Persons in 2013.

Pocatello, Idaho offers breathtaking views of the Rocky Mountains and also amazing exhibitions at the Idaho Museum of Natural History. In addition, the Yellowstone National Park is only a drive of 2 hours and thirty minutes away, giving residents several places to visit.

3. Moscow

Cost of living: 3.1% below average

Number of physicians: 134

Average commute time: 13.43 minutes

Crime rate: 28

Moscow is home to the University of Idaho and a versatile city with a number of perks. Costs of living, health care facilities, traveling and crime rate: all these factors contribute to a positive environment in this city.

For reading enthusiasts, this city houses the Moscow Public Library, which contains 60% of the Latah County Library District’s 100,000 volumes. In addition to this, outdoor recreation is also available in the form of several parks, where you can spend your days admiring amazing views.

2. Rexburg

Cost of living: 2% above average

Number of physicians: 117

Average commute time: 13.77 minutes

Crime rate: 19

Rexburg, one of the safest cities in Idaho, holds the Brigham Young University, which provides a lot of education opportunities for the residents. For retirees, this town is appealing for its two exceptional golf courses: Teton Lakes Golf Course and Municipal Golf Course. Furthermore, this city holds the Teton Dam Marathon annually in the month of June, providing entertainment for the participants and all present. Biking, boating, hiking, fishing and hunting are also popular in this area making it perfect for a person of the outdoors or a nature-loving retiree.

1. Lewiston

Cost of living: 4.3% below average

Number of physicians: 232

Average commute time: 14 minutes

Crime rate: 40

Lewiston is an affordable town with a reasonable crime rate and a very attractive commute time. The low cost of living and impeccable health care doesn’t hurt either.

This city is considered an entertainment and health care center for the residents that live in the neighboring areas. For enjoyment, people visit the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area. Lewiston, Idaho also hosts an annual festival on 25th December for Christmas, giving the place a very homely feel.

Lewiston provides a favorable habitat in all aspects, which is why it has been ranked number one in the list of 10 best places to retire in Idaho.