Best counties to raise a family in Idaho
Best counties to raise a family in Idaho
For people looking to find a home to raise a family in, choosing a county is an important decision. Most families place affordable homes, safe neighborhoods, a quality school system, and family-friendly activities at the top of their wish lists.
Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to raise a family in Idaho using 2025 data from Niche. Niche ranks counties based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather.
The list features counties that boast some of the top schools and fun, family-friendly activities for every season. Keep reading to explore the best counties to raise a family. Maybe you’ll find one that suits your brood.
#25. Caribou County
– Niche grades: good for families (C+), public schools (B), cost of living (B-), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B-)
– Population: 7,118
– Median household income: $66,653
– Median home value: $220,200
– Top places to live: Soda Springs (C), Grace (B+), Bancroft (C)
#24. Lincoln County
– Niche grades: good for families (C+), public schools (C), cost of living (C+), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B+)
– Population: 5,276
– Median household income: $66,038
– Median home value: $206,700
– Top places to live: Dietrich (B-), Shoshone (C+), Richfield (C)
#23. Owyhee County
– Niche grades: good for families (C+), public schools (B), cost of living (C), weather (A-), outdoor activities (B)
– Population: 12,284
– Median household income: $59,773
– Median home value: $281,600
– Top places to live: Homedale (C+), Marsing (C+), Grand View (C)
#22. Bonner County
– Niche grades: good for families (B-), public schools (B+), cost of living (C-), weather (C), outdoor activities (A)
– Population: 49,456
– Median household income: $65,168
– Median home value: $433,400
– Top places to live: Sandpoint (B+), Ponderay (C+), Kootenai (C+)
#21. Nez Perce County
– Niche grades: good for families (B-), public schools (C+), cost of living (C), weather (B), outdoor activities (A-)
– Population: 42,477
– Median household income: $71,466
– Median home value: $291,300
– Top places to live: Lewiston (B), Sweetwater (B), Lapwai (B-)
#20. Franklin County
– Niche grades: good for families (B-), public schools (B-), cost of living (C), weather (C), outdoor activities (B-)
– Population: 14,715
– Median household income: $65,991
– Median home value: $304,000
– Top places to live: Preston (C+), Clifton (B), Dayton (B-)
#19. Twin Falls County
– Niche grades: good for families (B-), public schools (B-), cost of living (C-), weather (B+), outdoor activities (B)
– Population: 92,121
– Median household income: $65,338
– Median home value: $292,700
– Top places to live: Kimberly (B), Twin Falls (B), Buhl (C)
#18. Minidoka County
– Niche grades: good for families (B-), public schools (C+), cost of living (C+), weather (B+), outdoor activities (B)
– Population: 21,922
– Median household income: $70,060
– Median home value: $235,300
– Top places to live: Heyburn (B-), Paul (B-), Rupert (C+)
#17. Bear Lake County
– Niche grades: good for families (B-), public schools (B), cost of living (B-), weather (C-), outdoor activities (B-)
– Population: 6,552
– Median household income: $67,304
– Median home value: $234,200
– Top places to live: Montpelier (B-), Paris (B-), Georgetown (B-)
#16. Valley County
– Niche grades: good for families (B-), public schools (B), cost of living (C-), weather (C-), outdoor activities (A)
– Population: 12,136
– Median household income: $76,125
– Median home value: $599,500
– Top places to live: McCall (B+), Cascade (C+), Smiths Ferry (unavailable)
#15. Gooding County
– Niche grades: good for families (B-), public schools (B-), cost of living (C+), weather (B+), outdoor activities (B+)
– Population: 15,740
– Median household income: $62,395
– Median home value: $231,800
– Top places to live: Wendell (C+), Gooding (C), Hagerman (B)
#14. Kootenai County
– Niche grades: good for families (B-), public schools (B), cost of living (D+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A)
– Population: 177,736
– Median household income: $77,034
– Median home value: $467,400
– Top places to live: Dalton Gardens (B), Coeur d’Alene (B-), Rathdrum (B-)
#13. Power County
– Niche grades: good for families (B-), public schools (C+), cost of living (C+), weather (B), outdoor activities (B+)
– Population: 8,018
– Median household income: $59,760
– Median home value: $191,200
– Top places to live: American Falls (B), Rockland (B-)
#12. Canyon County
– Niche grades: good for families (B-), public schools (B-), cost of living (C-), weather (A-), outdoor activities (A-)
– Population: 242,405
– Median household income: $72,355
– Median home value: $350,300
– Top places to live: Middleton (B+), Nampa (B-), Caldwell (C+)
#11. Jefferson County
– Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (B), cost of living (C), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B-)
– Population: 32,234
– Median household income: $82,952
– Median home value: $335,000
– Top places to live: Rigby (B+), Ririe (B+), Roberts (B-)
#10. Teton County
– Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (C), cost of living (C-), weather (C), outdoor activities (B-)
– Population: 12,101
– Median household income: $90,740
– Median home value: $595,900
– Top places to live: Driggs (B), Victor (B-), Tetonia (C-)
#9. Madison County
– Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (B), cost of living (C-), weather (C+), outdoor activities (A-)
– Population: 53,578
– Median household income: $58,259
– Median home value: $365,000
– Top places to live: Sugar City (B), Rexburg (B)
#8. Fremont County
– Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (B), cost of living (C+), weather (C-), outdoor activities (A-)
– Population: 13,701
– Median household income: $72,767
– Median home value: $281,800
– Top places to live: St. Anthony (B), Ashton (B), Island Park (C+)
#7. Cassia County
– Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (B-), cost of living (C+), weather (B+), outdoor activities (B)
– Population: 25,165
– Median household income: $67,042
– Median home value: $257,300
– Top places to live: Burley (B-), Oakley (B), Albion (B)
#6. Bonneville County
– Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B-), cost of living (C), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B+)
– Population: 127,056
– Median household income: $76,646
– Median home value: $327,000
– Top places to live: Ammon (B+), Idaho Falls (B), Lincoln (B-)
#5. Bingham County
– Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B-), cost of living (C+), weather (B), outdoor activities (A-)
– Population: 48,993
– Median household income: $76,842
– Median home value: $258,000
– Top places to live: Blackfoot (B), Riverside (B), Shelley (B-)
#4. Bannock County
– Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B), cost of living (C), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A-)
– Population: 88,457
– Median household income: $64,080
– Median home value: $267,200
– Top places to live: Pocatello (B+), Chubbuck (B), Tyhee (B-)
#3. Latah County
– Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B), cost of living (C-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A)
– Population: 40,315
– Median household income: $65,179
– Median home value: $342,500
– Top places to live: Moscow (A), Troy (B), Genesee (B)
#2. Blaine County
– Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (A-), cost of living (C-), weather (C-), outdoor activities (B)
– Population: 24,579
– Median household income: $84,470
– Median home value: $663,800
– Top places to live: Sun Valley (B+), Ketchum (B+), Hailey (B)
#1. Ada County
– Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (A-), cost of living (D+), weather (B), outdoor activities (A)
– Population: 508,052
– Median household income: $88,907
– Median home value: $476,000
– Top places to live: North End (A+), Boise Heights (A), Sunset (A)
