Boise named one of the nation’s best capital cities. See how it ranked — and why
Boise residents live in one of the nation’s best capital cities, according to WalletHub.
According to the personal finance website, state capitals were “vibrant cities with strong economies and rich cultural scenes.”
“Some state capitals boast incredible job markets, high average salaries, world-class universities and an abundance of attractions,” WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said in a Feb. 16 article titled “Best State Capitals to Live In.”
The City of Trees was one of the top five contenders for the title, WalletHub said.
Here’s where it ranked, and why:
Why is Boise one of the best state capitals to live?
The Idaho state capital was No. 5 on WalletHub’s list of the best capital cities to live, with a state capital index of 59.72 out of 100.
“States should aim to make their capital city a shining example of the best they have to offer,” Lupo said in the study. “A state’s capital city is more than just the seat of its government – it’s also often the center of its economic activity.”
Boise ranked third in the nation in the economic category, WalletHub found, and fourth in terms of quality of life.
“Across the board, as far as economics go, Boise has got a lot going for it,” Lupo told the Idaho Statesman over the phone.
The population of Boise “has a very high median credit score of 747,” just a few points away from the “excellent” credit threshhold of 750, Lupo said. “Between 700 and 750, you’ve got a shot getting pretty much approved for any type of credit with a credit score that high.”
According to Consumer Affairs, Boise’s high performing economy is among the factors that make the City of Trees a top place to “start fresh.”
Consumer Affairs ranked Boise among the best places to move to start over in 2026, the Idaho States previously reported.
“The city offers a thriving economy ... including rising incomes and a diversified, growing job market,” Consumer Affairs said in a Jan. 7 article.
Boise gained high marks for quality of life based on its accessibility for people on foot, according to Lupo.
“Walkability, which is a rarity in a thriving, large metro area,” is abundant in the City of Trees, the analyst said.
Lupo said Boise’s large number of affordable, top-rated restaurants and “abundance of coffee shops per capita” also contributed to its high rank in the quality of life 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.”
How does Boise compare to other state capitals?
While Idaho’s capital got high scores in the economic and quality of life categories, it didn’t perform as well in other categories.
Boise was No. 12 in the nation for quality of education and health. The city scored lower for affordability, coming in 19th place.
According to Lupo, Boise’s score for quality of education and health mainly suffered due to the Idaho capital’s graduation rates. Boise placed No. 35 out of 50 in terms of graduation rates.
Lupo told the Statesman that one thing the nation’s top capital cities have in common is that they are “education hubs” with “access to a major university.”
When it comes to affordability, “what drags (Boise) down is the housing costs,” Lupo said, noting that the city ranked 36th in that category.
“(There’s) no reason why Boise couldn’t do better than five next year again,” Lupo said, calling its fifth-place finis “still phenomenal.” “Boise is keeping pace with the rest of them in terms of just being a very livable capital city.”
Where are the top 10 capital cities in the US?
According to WalletHub, these were the top 10 state capitals to live in 2026:
- 1. Austin, Texas
- 2. Raleigh, North Carolina
- 3. Atlanta
- 4. Madison, Wisconsin
- 5. Boise
- 6. St. Paul, Minnesota
- 7. Lincoln, Nebraska
- 8. Bismarck, North Dakota
- 9. Denver
- 10. Salt Lake City
How did WalletHub rank best capital cities in the nation?
WalletHub said ranked the best capital cities to live in based on four categories, broken into 48 measurable metrics:
- Affordability: Costs of living, median household income and housing costs.
- Economic well-being: Economic growth trends as well as average debt and bankruptcy, foreclosure, poverty and unemployment rates.
- Quality of education and health: Access to quality schools, top-rated universities and high school graduation rates, plus health care metrics such as mortality rates, physical inactivity and access to quality health facilities and health insurance.
- Quality of life: Population growth and access to coffee shops restaurants and movie theaters, plus community, walkability, weather and crime rates
Data for the study came from sources including the FBI, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Yelp.
