Idaho is bad. But one state is worse. Western U.S. now dominates unaffordable housing.

If you’re dreaming of owning a home, it’s ugly out there — with no simple solutions to the nation’s housing shortage.

But when it comes to affordability, just how hideous is gorgeous Idaho?

Pretty disgusting — at least in Boise. Yet not the absolute worst, according to a new report from QuoteWizard, a subsidiary of online money mammoth LendingTree.

Comparing wages with real-estate costs, Idaho is the second least affordable housing state in the nation, according to the analysis.

Nevada is worse. By a smidge, the report says. Not everyone is a high roller, and homes are spendy. The median cost of a house in Reno rose to $500,000 in January, according to nonprofit online news source The Nevada Independent. In Las Vegas? $345,000.

The methodology used in QuoteWizard’s analysis was simple. “To find which states have the largest disparities between income and housing costs, we looked at median home costs on Zillow, Inc. from 2012 to 2021,” the write-up explains. “Median income per household data from 2012 to 2021 was compiled from the U.S. Census Bureau.”

“Housing prices are racing ahead of income for those living in Idaho. Our team of housing market analysts found that housing prices are up 145.9% since 2012. Income, however, is only up 27.3% over the same time period.”

The situation is similarly grim across the West. Based on the difference between median income and home price in percentage points, the top 10 most unaffordable states are, in this order, Nevada, Idaho, Arizona, Washington, Michigan, Utah, Florida, Oregon, California and Colorado.

Maybe it’s time to hit the boss up for a raise? Or head east?

Unfortunately, for reasons out of the control of hopeful homebuyers, things worsened nationwide during the COVID-19 crisis.

“Perhaps the most shocking statistic of all,” the report says, “... is that despite record unemployment and a global pandemic, housing prices rose 10.2% in 2020. The possibilities of remote work could give people a chance to leave high-priced states like California, but as we have seen, this only increases prices in states like Idaho.

“Owning a home is supposed to be part of ‘The American Dream.’ The question is, is this still a reality for most Americans?”

Not so much in the Gem State, unless things change.