Boise named one of most livable cities in the US. Here’s where it ranked and why
Boise is one of the nation’s most livable cities, according to RentCafe.
The apartment search website recently went in search of the most livable metropolitan areas in the United States in 2026, based on the cost of living, housing, mental health and other factors.
Livability is “everything that you would care about when choosing where to live, including whether this place can support the well-being and social engagement of its residents,” RentCafe real estate writer and analyst Adina Dragos wrote in a Jan. 3 article.
Boise was among the U.S. cities that found a place in the top 10.
Here’s where the City of Trees placed and why:
What makes Boise one of the nation’s most livable cities?
Boise placed No. 10 on RentCafe’s 2026 list of the most livable cities in the nation, out of a total of 149 metropolitan areas.
The Idaho city placed highest in the location and community category, coming at No. 19 nationwide.
Boise was No. 23 in the nation in terms of quality of life, RentCafe said, and was No. 30 in the socioeconomic category.
Boise “offers renters access to healthy food thanks to its vertical farms, as well as more than 100 parks and annual events like the Hyde Park Street Fair,” RentCafe said, “making it perfect for those who both work hard and play hard.”
“This rapidly growing metro area stands out as a hub for economic opportunities thanks to its labor force growth in key sectors like construction, manufacturing and education, along with a low unemployment rate,” Dragos wrote.
Boise’s shorter commute times, plentiful exercise opportunities and “easy access to healthy, organic food” help it stand out for people seeking a “laidback, outdoor-friendly lifestyle,” according to RentCafe.
“Residents can maintain a comfortable lifestyle without the typical pressures of major urban centers,” Dragos told the Idaho Statesman via email.
Boise “ranks considerably lower” than other top-ranked cities in the location and community category, Dragos told the Statesman, although the Idaho state capital has “improved slightly.”
That indicates a need for “easier access to desirable amenities, cultural opportunities and community resources for residents to socialize and connect,” Dragos said.
How affordable is Boise?
Boise’s average cost of living is 9% higher than the state average and 3% higher than the national average, according to RentCafe’s cost of living calculator.
Other than state health care and Boise’s significantly lower utility costs, the calculator shows the city averaging higher across state costs and national costs.
“When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 3% pricier in Boise, ID than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 8% more,” said the website.
According to a 2025 LendingTree study, Boise has the second worst housing crisis in the nation.
Idaho’s capital city has both a low vacancy rate and “a widening gap” between the value of homes and average income that “speaks to growing unaffordability,” the study said.
Boise residents took to social media in recent months to complain about housing prices.
“How are you guys affording rent in this city?!” Reddit user ThrowRA___63 wrote in a June post on the Boise subreddit. “I’m having such a hard time finding even a crappy studio for less than $1,100.”
“It’s a major crisis,” another Reddit user replied.
“I know that everybody knows housing prices in Boise are insane, but I’m wondering where everyone is looking for rental homes/apartments in Boise?” Reddit user Alternative_Ad_7110 asked in an August post. “I’m just really struggling to find anything with decent pricing.”
Where are top 10 cities for livability in US?
The Midwest “dominates as the region with the most livable metro areas,” RentCafe said, noting that six of the top 20 most livable cities were located there.
These were the top 10 metro areas in the nation in terms of livability, according to RentCafe:
- 1. Washington, D.C.
- 2. Portland, Maine
- 3. Kansas City
- 4. Des Moines
- 5. Ann Arbor, Michigan
- 6. Albany, New York
- 7. Columbus, Ohio
- 8. Asheville, North Carolina
- 9. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
- 10. Boise
How does RentCafe score livability?
RentCafe collected data from 149 metro areas with a population of at least 300,000. The website analyzed cities across three categories to determine which are the most livable:
- Socioeconomic: cost of living, income growth rate, poverty rate, unemployment rate and income inequality
- Quality of life: number of poor physical and mental health days, food environment index, exercise accessibility, physical inactivity, number of uninsured and number of health care providers per 10,000 residents
- Location and community: number of highly educated residents, social association rate, total of severe housing problems, average long commutes and number of arts, entertainment and recreation establishments per 10,000 residents
Data for this study was gathered from sources including the Cost of Living Index, the U.S. Census Bureau, the Centers for Disease Control, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Feeding America, the YMCA and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
