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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $150K salary, 3 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices. We ran the numbers on 3 cities in Idaho using 2026 census, rent, and salary data. Nampa co…
#1 Ranked: Nampa — cost index 104, rent $1,561/mo, income $72,122
3 of 3 cities keep rent under 30% of $150K
3 of 3 cities keep rent under 30% of $150K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $150K salary, 3 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices. We ran the numbers on 3 cities in Idaho using 2026 census, rent, and salary data. Nampa comes out on top — here's the full ranking and analysis.
Why Nampa ranks #1: the numbers tell a clear story. At 104 on the cost index, residents save roughly 8% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,561/month while the median household pulls in $72,122/year. The Utilities category is particularly strong at 95, though Housing (109) lags behind. Home prices average $408,658 — $58,712 below the national median.
It checks most boxes — but the housing costs are the asterisk. In Nampa, the housing index sits at 109 — above average and worth factoring in.
Bottom line: Nampa leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. Click into any city below to see the full detail page with 12-month trend charts, profession-specific salary data, and a breakdown of all five cost categories. If you're seriously considering a move, use our salary calculator to model your specific income against these numbers.
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $150K salary, 3 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices.
Rent in #1-ranked Nampa has increased from $1,502 to $1,561/mo over the past 12 months — a 4% increase. Rising costs may erode its top ranking over time.
114,268 residents · Idaho
A closer look at Nampa: the cost index of 104 breaks down to a Utilities index of 95 (strongest category) and a Housing index of 109 (weakest). Median rent is $1,561/month — 18% below the national median — while household income sits at $72,122, meaning locals spend about 26% of income on rent. That's within the recommended 30% threshold, though it doesn't leave much room.
235,421 residents · Idaho
Here's Boise by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 110. Rent: $1,703/month. Income: $81,308/year. Home price: $494,696. Population: 235,421. The strongest category is Utilities at 101; the most expensive is Housing at 125. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $2,304 per year vs. the national median. If you're a planner, this number should anchor your spreadsheet.
134,801 residents · Idaho
The #3 spot goes to Meridian, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,954/month — costing renters $708 more per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Utilities is the standout at index 106, keeping costs manageable. The weak spot? Housing at 138. At a 24% rent-to-income ratio, there's genuine breathing room in the average household budget.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Nampa | 5.695% | 6.02% | 0.56% | $100,940 |
2Boise | 5.695% | 6.02% | 0.56% | $100,940 |
3Meridian | 5.695% | 6.02% | 0.56% | $100,940 |
We calculate what percentage of a $150K gross salary goes to median rent. Cities where rent consumes less of your paycheck rank higher. We also factor in estimated take-home pay after federal taxes, FICA (7.65%), and state income tax. All data is sourced from federal agencies and verified research institutions. Cost of living indices are normalized to 100 (national median) using Zillow rent as the primary signal, with sub-category adjustments derived from regional BLS price data. Rankings are updated monthly as new data is released.
Nampa ranks #1 in Idaho for this analysis with a cost index of 104 and median income of $72,122.
Yes. On a $150K salary in Nampa, rent would consume about 12% of your gross monthly income. Financial experts recommend keeping rent under 30%. You're well within that guideline.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
Nampa (ranked #1) has a cost index of 104 and rent of $1,561/mo, while Meridian (ranked #3) has a cost index of 115 and rent of $1,954/mo — a 11-point difference in cost of living.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Nampa is $1,561/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $334 below the national median of $1,895/month.
After federal taxes, FICA (7.65%), and 5.695% state income tax, estimated take-home on $150K in Nampa is approximately $100,940/year ($8,412/month). After median rent of $1,561/month, you'd have roughly $82,208/year for all other expenses.
The median home price in Nampa is $408,658, which is 5.7× the local median income. Most median-income households would stretch to buy at this ratio. The national median home price is $467,370.
Idaho has a 5.695% state income tax rate. Combined state and local sales tax averages 6.02%, and the effective property tax rate is 0.56%.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.