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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. Fairly typical for a city this size. On a $100K salary, 3 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices. We ran the numbers on 3 cities in Idaho using 2026 ce…
#1 Ranked: Nampa — cost index 91, rent $1,561/mo, income $72,122
3 of 3 cities keep rent under 30% of $100K
3 of 3 cities keep rent under 30% of $100K 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. Fairly typical for a city this size. On a $100K 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.
On a $100K salary, the key number is $2,500/month — that's 30% of gross, the standard affordability line. Nampa ($1,561/mo, 19%), Boise ($1,703/mo, 20%), Meridian ($1,954/mo, 23%) all clear that bar. After federal tax, FICA (7.65%), and state income tax, estimated take-home ranges from $69,602 to $69,602/year across these top picks.
Nampa earns its position at #1 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 91 cost index sits 20 points below the national baseline, and the $72,122 — which, honestly, is lower than you'd expect here — median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $408,658 — $58,712 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Housing leads the way at 91, while Healthcare trails at 98.
If you only look at rent, it's perfect. Zoom out and it's complicated. In Nampa, the healthcare index sits at 98 — not a dealbreaker, but worth knowing about.
Let's cut to what actually matters here. 3 of 3 cities keep rent under 30% of $100K. The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $100K salary, 3 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices.
What to do with this data: use the ranking as a shortlist, then dig into the city profiles for trend lines and category breakdowns. The difference between #1 and #5 is often smaller than the difference between "good on paper" and "actually fits my life." Compare your top picks with our calculator to see real take-home numbers. Not flashy. Just effective.
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $100K 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
Why Nampa ranks #1: the numbers tell a clear story. At 91 on the cost index, residents save roughly 20% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,561/month while the median household pulls in $72,122/year. The Housing category is particularly strong at 91, though Healthcare (98) lags behind. Home prices average $408,658 — $58,712 below the national median.
235,421 residents · Idaho
What does daily life actually cost in Boise? Start with the 25% rent-to-income ratio — tight but manageable for most households. On the category level, Housing (index 99) is where the real savings show up, while Healthcare (index 100) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $81,308 and homes at $494,696 round out a profile that ranks #2 for clear reasons.
134,801 residents · Idaho
Look, Meridian earns its position at #3 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 114 cost index sits 3 points above the national baseline, and the $98,686 median income means purchasing power here is partially offset by higher costs. Homes list at $526,393 — $59,023 above the national median, reflecting the local market dynamics. On the cost side, Healthcare leads the way at 103, while Housing trails at 114.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Nampa | 5.695% | 6.02% | 0.56% | $69,602 |
2Boise | 5.695% | 6.02% | 0.56% | $69,602 |
3Meridian | 5.695% | 6.02% | 0.56% | $69,602 |
Nampa ranks #1 in Idaho for this analysis with a cost index of 91 and median income of $72,122.
Yes. On a $100K salary in Nampa, rent would consume about 19% 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 91 and rent of $1,561/mo, while Meridian (ranked #3) has a cost index of 114 and rent of $1,954/mo — a 23-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 $100K in Nampa is approximately $69,602/year ($5,800/month). After median rent of $1,561/month, you'd have roughly $50,870/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.