If you’re looking for safe cities and neighborhoods, amazing schools, large green spaces, good food, and just overall good family friendly fun, you can stop your search: Idaho is one of the most family friendly states in the USA.
Heck, there’s a reason Idaho is one of the best states to raise a family in the country. There are great family friendly Idaho places around every corner in The Gem State. And, HomeSnacks is here to give you the ultimate guide: we’ve broken down the best places to raise a family in Idaho for 2026, and the top ten list is below.
It is a known fact that many families visit idaho on vacation and end up staying. This is because the state has Blue Ribbon elementary schools, gold star high schools, cutting edge universities, good jobs with competitive salaries, and tons of staycation possibilities for families on a budget. And speaking of budgets, there are family friendly places for all types of budgets. There are places like Blackfoot for the family that loves spending time outside, places like Moscow for families just starting out, and places like Hailey for families who don’t have to worry about being on a budget.
In all family fun seriousness, you can have the family skiing on the slopes in Sun Valley and at the Discovery Center of Idaho in Boise</a all in the same weekend. We call that an Idaho win!
Want to see a list of Idaho's best places for families? Read on.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
How did we determine Idaho’s most family friendly places? We consulted the US Census on places in the Gem State with more than 5,000 residents. We looked at several factors: crime, education, family friendly activities, and the percent of households that currently have children. We ended up with 28 family friendly Idaho places that any family would be lucky to call home.
But, there can only be one number one best place to raise your family in Idaho, and that would be Moscow.
To see how your favorite place in Idaho compared, take a look at the list below; and if you don’t see it there, head to the bottom.
More reading about Idaho and the best places for families in the country:
- Best Places To Live In Idaho
- Cheapest Places To Live In Idaho
- Best Cities To Raise A Family In America
- Best States To Raise A Family In America
The 10 Best Places To Raise A Family In Idaho For 2026
/10
Population: 26,286
Median Income: $57,022
Average Home Price: $467,640
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 49
Closest Major City: Spokane
Households with kids: 25.4%
More on Moscow: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
/10
/10
Population: 9,665
Median Income: $90,760
Average Home Price: $900,672
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 34
Closest Major City: Spokane
Households with kids: 35.8%
More on Hailey: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 9,637
Median Income: $72,289
Average Home Price: $632,345
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 35
Closest Major City: Spokane
Households with kids: 26.7%
More on Sandpoint: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 10,649
Median Income: $89,013
Average Home Price: $499,965
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 43
Closest Major City: Spokane
Households with kids: 38.1%
More on Middleton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 130,138
Median Income: $100,795
Average Home Price: $526,994
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 38
Closest Major City: Spokane
Households with kids: 34.8%
More on Meridian: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 40,543
Median Income: $50,617
Average Home Price: $420,169
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 39
Closest Major City: Spokane
Households with kids: 29.1%
More on Rexburg: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 5,935
Median Income: $45,292
Average Home Price: $363,062
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 43
Closest Major City: Spokane
Households with kids: 29.6%
More on Weiser: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 12,930
Median Income: $66,894
Average Home Price: $399,693
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 56
Closest Major City: Reno
Households with kids: 52.5%
More on Jerome: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Methodology: How do you determine which place is best for families in Idaho anyways?
To give you the places in Idaho that are best for families, we must look at a handful of metrics. We want to measure the criteria people want in a family-friendly city utilizing Saturday Night Science.
After researching U.S. Census data produced for the state of Idaho, we looked at the data for every single city in the state. We paid particular attention to:
- Crime (Both violent and property)
- Quality of local schools
- Distance to a major city without necessarily being in it
- % of households with children
- Family-friendly amenities nearby (museums, libraries, and colleges)
We then gave each city a “Family Score.”
The higher the score, the better the city is for families. We also limited our results to cities with over 5,000 people. For Idaho, that meant a total of 28 cities.
We updated this article for 2026. This is our eleventh time ranking the best cities for families in Idaho.
Summary: The Best Places To Raise A Family In Idaho
If you’re looking for a breakdown of cities in Idaho ranked by criteria that most agree make a place a great spot for families, this is an accurate list.
The best places for families in Idaho are Moscow, Kimberly, Rigby, Hailey, Sandpoint, Middleton, Meridian, Rexburg, Weiser, and Jerome.
Here’s a look at the best cities for singles Idaho according to the data:
- Pocatello
- Twin Falls
- Chubbuck
For more Idaho reading, check out:
Best Places For Families In Idaho
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price | Amenities Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Moscow, ID | 26,286 | $57,022 | $467,640 | 78 |
| 2 | Kimberly, ID | 5,111 | $97,799 | $448,259 | 34 |
| 3 | Rigby, ID | 5,404 | $85,056 | $472,609 | 39 |
| 4 | Hailey, ID | 9,665 | $90,760 | $900,672 | 57 |
| 5 | Sandpoint, ID | 9,637 | $72,289 | $632,345 | 49 |
| 6 | Middleton, ID | 10,649 | $89,013 | $499,965 | 57 |
| 7 | Meridian, ID | 130,138 | $100,795 | $526,994 | 61 |
| 8 | Rexburg, ID | 40,543 | $50,617 | $420,169 | 43 |
| 9 | Weiser, ID | 5,935 | $45,292 | $363,062 | 62 |
| 10 | Jerome, ID | 12,930 | $66,894 | $399,693 | 54 |