Looking to move? Idaho just made this list for the third year in a row
Are homes in your Idaho neighborhood filling with new residents?
The Gem State is one of the top spots for folks looking to relocate, according to Consumer Affairs.
The consumer news platform, which guides for major purchases, recently released a list of the top 10 states to move to in 2026 — and Idaho landed a spot.
When it comes to selecting a new home, “Safety, comfort, stability and affordability are key, which is why it’s important to do your research,” Consumer Affairs said in a July 1 article.
Researchers from Consumer Affairs analyzed data on affordability, safety, economic strength, healthcare, education and quality of life to determine which states are worth relocating to.
Here’s why Idaho stands out as one of the best:
What makes Idaho one of the best states to move?
Idaho claimed the No. 3 spot on Consumer Affairs’ list of the best states to move for the third year in a row.
A strong economy and a high safety score make the Gem State a top draw for folks looking to relocate.
“The state places first for safety, bolstered by the nation’s lowest property crime rate,” Consumer Affairs said. “It also has the second-strongest economy on our list and ranks in the top third of states for affordability.”
The study also credited Idaho’s strong job growth, with employment opportunities increasing 15.7% from 2019 to 2024 — nearly double the national rate.
What are the top 10 states to move in the US?
“Each top state to move to in 2026 was also high up in last year’s rankings,” Consumer Affairs said. “These states consistently perform well across the metrics we study, especially in safety and economic strength.”
Here’s which states made the top ten:
- 1. New Hampshire
- 2. Utah
- 3. Idaho
- 4. Virginia
- 5. Maine
- 6. Massachusetts
- 7. South Dakota
- 8. Nebraska
- 9. Vermont
- 10. Wyoming
Where could Idaho improve?
Idaho beat out New Hampshire, named the No. 1 state to relocate, across three metrics, but fell short on two of them.
Idaho ranked No. 31 in the nation for healthcare and education, while New Hampshire placed No. 3.
When it came to quality of life, the Gem State landed in the middle of the pack at No. 26.
How did Consumer Affairs rank best states for relocate?
To find which states are the best for a fresh start in 2026, Consumer Affairs compared all 50 states in the United States across five categories:
- Affordability
- Safety
- Healthcare
- Education
- Quality of life
“For each metric, the top-performing state received the maximum number of points, while all other states received proportionally lower scores,” Consumer Affairs said. “We then combined the metric scores within each category and added the category scores together to calculate an overall score out of 100 points.”
Metrics included:
- Graduation rates
- Crime rates
- Housing costs
- Income averages
- Climate patterns
Data was gathered from sources including the U.S. Census Bureau, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
