Looking to find a gem of a place to retire in the Gem State?
Look no further, because we’ve used Saturday Night Science to determine the hottest spots in Idaho to call home for those looking to permanently hang up their office apparel.
Idaho may not immediately come to mind when thinking of states to retire in, but if you’re an outdoors enthusiast with nothing but time on your hands, it’s got a lot going for it. Those that want to keep fit with winter sports will love having access to Sun Valley in Sawtooth National Recreation Forest. For folks who prefer hiking, there’s Hell’s Canyon, which will, names aside, provide heavenly trails and (for those without heart conditions) intense whitewater rafting. And if you just want to kick back and enjoy some startling beauty, there’s Idaho’s Shoshone Falls, also known as “the Niagara of the west.”
So just where are the best places to retire in Idaho? Most of these places are off the beaten track, with most being a few hours away from the nearest big cities.
Grab your baked potatoes, settle down beside Lake Coeur d’Alene, and read on to learn the best places to retire in Idaho.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
These cities will surely satisfy your retirement priorities, whatever they may be. It’s good to note that 40% of this list overlaps with our list of best cities for families in Idaho, so you might have an easy time convincing the kids and/or grandkids to move somewhere close by.
Which city ranked as the best spot to retire in Idaho? According to the data, Weiser is the best spot to spend your retirement in the Gem State.
Why did Weiser take the top spot? And where are Meridian and Nampa?
For more Idaho state reading:
- Best Places To Live In Idaho
- Cheapest Places To Live In Idaho
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Idaho
- Best Places To Retire In America
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Idaho For 2026
/10
Population: 5,935
Median Income: $45,292
Median Home Price: $363,062
Median Rent: $927
Distance to Closest Airport: 230 miles
More on Weiser: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 9,637
Median Income: $72,289
Median Home Price: $632,345
Median Rent: $1,125
Distance to Closest Airport: 64 miles
More on Sandpoint: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 5,928
Median Income: $61,039
Median Home Price: $431,654
Median Rent: $811
Distance to Closest Airport: 90 miles
More on Preston: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 26,286
Median Income: $57,022
Median Home Price: $467,640
Median Rent: $927
Distance to Closest Airport: 66 miles
More on Moscow: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 12,782
Median Income: $64,032
Median Home Price: $369,865
Median Rent: $839
Distance to Closest Airport: 167 miles
More on Blackfoot: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 8,536
Median Income: $55,208
Median Home Price: $368,361
Median Rent: $837
Distance to Closest Airport: 239 miles
More on Payette: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 8,275
Median Income: $58,750
Median Home Price: $455,351
Median Rent: $1,042
Distance to Closest Airport: 240 miles
More on Emmett: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 9,665
Median Income: $90,760
Median Home Price: $900,672
Median Rent: $1,460
Distance to Closest Airport: 222 miles
More on Hailey: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 34,651
Median Income: $72,197
Median Home Price: $382,187
Median Rent: $1,027
Distance to Closest Airport: 88 miles
More on Lewiston: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Gem State for 2026
To create our ranking of the best places in Idaho to retire, we used Saturday Night Science. We analyzed Census data to find all places in the Gem State — 224 cities and towns.
We then narrowed it down to places with at least 5,000 people that weren’t townships. This left us with 28 places from across the state.
For these 28, we looked at the following criteria taken from the Census, the FBI’s Crime Report, National Weather Service, and OpenFlights:
- Low cost of living as measured by rent
- Low crime
- Things to do (Museums, Colleges, and Libraries in town)
- Nice weather
- Distance to the closest international airport
- Other retirees (High median age)
We then ranked each of these places for each criterion from one to 28, with the lowest number being the best.
Finally, we took the average rank across these criteria. The place, in this case Weiser, with the lowest average rank, was crowned the best of the best, a place for you to start your second career.
The report has been updated for 2026. This list reflects our eleventh time ranking the best places to retire in Idaho.
Summary: Maybe You’re Not Ready To Retire In Idaho Yet…
So there you have it, the best place to retire in Idaho goes to Weiser.
The best places to retire in Idaho are Weiser, Sandpoint, Preston, Moscow, Blackfoot, Payette, Emmett, Hailey, Lewiston, and Kimberly.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley:
- Caldwell
- Nampa
- Meridian
For more Idaho reading, check out:
Best Places To Retire In Idaho
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Weiser | 5,935 | $45,292 | $363,062 | $927 |
| 2 | Sandpoint | 9,637 | $72,289 | $632,345 | $1,125 |
| 3 | Preston | 5,928 | $61,039 | $431,654 | $811 |
| 4 | Moscow | 26,286 | $57,022 | $467,640 | $927 |
| 5 | Blackfoot | 12,782 | $64,032 | $369,865 | $839 |
| 6 | Payette | 8,536 | $55,208 | $368,361 | $837 |
| 7 | Emmett | 8,275 | $58,750 | $455,351 | $1,042 |
| 8 | Hailey | 9,665 | $90,760 | $900,672 | $1,460 |
| 9 | Lewiston | 34,651 | $72,197 | $382,187 | $1,027 |
| 10 | Kimberly | 5,111 | $97,799 | $448,259 | $1,127 |