Two of the best cities to retire are in Idaho. What made them appealing for seniors?
Idaho is home to two of the best cities for retirement in the country, according to different studies conducted by U.S. News & World Report and USA Today.
Boise was named the fifth-best city in the country to retire, U.S. News & World Report said. The report said the Idaho capital was one of the best among 150 cities rated nationwide based on measures including happiness, affordability and health care. The article also ranked Boise as the second-best place to live in the country.
Meridian was named the third-best city in America to retire, according to USA Today Based on data from 329 cities, the report ranked Meridian high on factors such as tax friendliness, health care availability, housing costs and number of leisure activities.
Boise ranking in U.S. News & World Report
This year, U.S. News & World Report made happiness the most important of the six factors to determine the best city for retirement in its annual ranking. Key characteristics also included affordability, health care quality, retiree taxes, desirability and job market.
The rankings were weighted based on a public survey of people 45 or older across the U.S., to find out what matters most as they start considering where to retire. Data sources included the U.S. Census Bureau, Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, among others.
“Boise is a recreationalist’s paradise,” the article said. “If you value the outdoors and time spent among rivers, mountains, canyons, deserts and lakes – and all the activities encapsulated therein – it’s worth a serious look.”
It continued: “Boise’s residents may spend their days enjoying nature, but they fill their evenings dining on locally sourced cuisine, enjoying an opera performance and sipping delicious cocktails.”
The study also acknowledged that cost of living in Boise can be expensive, but the city offers a better value than similarly sized cities when comparing housing costs to median household income. The national average of housing costs in 2024 was $281,900, while the average in Boise was $422,080, according to the report, which cited data from consulting with the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
The state compensates for higher housing costs with lower taxes, with an income tax rate between 1% and 7% and a sales tax of 6%. The cost of car insurance to monthly energy bills is also lower in Idaho than the rest of the country, according to the study.
Weather in the Gem State capital was also found desirable, with the average winter temperature is 33 degrees and summer is 77, the report said.
Boise was also found to have a shorter commute time, averaging at 24 minutes, about eight minutes less than the national average. )Earlier this year, the Idaho Statesman reported that Boise was also found to be the second-best city for drivers, according to WalletHub.)
The report said Boise has a variety of recreation activities and boasts a low crime rate. It also has a diverse group of refugees from Africa and the Middle East who have opened small businesses. U.S. News & World Report highlighted the popular Basque Block downtown. The location was also noted as a reason Boise was named one of the world’s best places to visit in 2025, because the Jaialdi festival is taking place.
U.S. News & World Report said people ages 45 through 64 make up 25% of the state’s population, and people 65 and over make up 16%, according to data from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Meridian ranking in USA Today
The USA Today study noted outdoor space as a key feature for Meridian, along with recreation and the European-inspired Village at Meridian shopping and dining mecca.
“Its proximity to Idaho’s largest city means retirees can enjoy all the benefits of urban amenities and top-tier health care without the congestion of living in the capital,” USA Today noted.
Meridian boasts the fifth-lowest crime rate of the cities included in the study: 7.9 crimes per 1,000 residents, according to NeighborhoodScout.
Meridian and Boise also have low hospital readmission rates (12.4%), and Idaho residents are exempt from state tax on Social Security benefits, according to the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
USA Today also said the typical home value in Meridian is $527,950. Also, there are at least seven relevant senior care providers per 1,000 residents, according to Zillow home value index.
This story was originally published November 26, 2024 at 4:00 AM.
