What it's like to live in Idaho Falls
Idaho Falls is a smaller city in Idaho with rent below the national average, unemployment below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and air quality that stays clean most of the year. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Idaho Falls deals with larger class sizes than the national average, cold, harsh winters, and fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Low unemployment
- Short commutes
- Clean air
- Growing population
The not so good
- High student-teacher ratio
- Cold, harsh winters
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How Idaho Falls compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Idaho Falls
Based on Idaho Falls's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,150
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $43,000 a year
- 41% of Idaho Falls renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$67,100
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $33,550
- Homes cost 4.6× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 24% below US
$1,075/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,075 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices run above average, with a median around $335,500. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $335,500 · 41% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 23% below US
3.3% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.3%, a little below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
SafetyNear US average
301 violent crimes per 100k
Crime runs about typical for a city this size. Some neighborhoods are safer than others, and one overall rate doesn't tell the whole story, so a neighborhood-level look matters more than the headline stat.
Property crime 960/100k · Idaho Falls Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 27% below US
19 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 18.9 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 10% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 83°F, and winters are cold and harsh, with lows dropping to 18°F. It's a dry climate with limited rainfall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
3 hospitals
There are 3 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 3.3 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 12% below US
32% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 32% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
25 public schools inside the boundary
There are 25 public schools inside the boundary and 5 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 19:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Grand Teton National Park (70 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Idaho Falls's strongest points are rent below the national average and unemployment below the national average; the main tradeoffs are cold, harsh winters and fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city. A year of median rent ($1,075/mo) equals 18% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget, job seekers, and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone who dislikes long, cold winters.
Other places near Idaho Falls
All Idaho guides →Moving to Blackfoot →
26 mi away · pop. 12,782
Rent $839/mo · Income $64,032
Compare with Idaho Falls →Moving to Rexburg →
26 mi away · pop. 40,543
Rent $1,004/mo · Income $50,617
Compare with Idaho Falls →Moving to Chubbuck →
44 mi away · pop. 16,126
Rent $1,048/mo · Income $82,977
Compare with Idaho Falls →Not sure Idaho Falls is the one?
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