You’ve seen these lists before. Best places to live in Idaho. Best sururbs in Idaho. Best counties in Idaho.
Etc., etc., etc.
But they all focus on major cities and towns in the Gem State, and no one pays attention to the little guy.
Well, that’s all about to change as we put together a list of the superb small towns in Idaho based on numbers–not opinions or hearsay.
We’ll dive right into our methodology in the next section, but first, we thought you might want to know which places in Idaho ranked the best based on Saturday Night Science.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 15 Best Small Towns To Live In Idaho For 2026
- Ketchum
- Sun Valley
- Dalton Gardens
- Iona
- Ucon
- Genesee
- Malad City
- Sugar City
- New Plymouth
- Robie Creek
- Lincoln
- Filer
- Driggs
- Franklin
- Tyhee
What’s the best small town in Idaho? Ketchum is the best small town in Idaho based on the most recent Census data. If you live in one of these small towns like Ketchum, chances are, you’re not surprised. After all, you know how great you have it.
But for the rest of you–keep reading, and we’ll get to just why these small towns made our list.
For more reading on the Gem State check out:
The 15 Best Small Towns In Idaho For 2026
1. Ketchum
/10
Population: 3,594
Median Income: $93,046 (5th Best)
Median Home Value: $1,627,915 (1st Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%
2. Sun Valley
/10
Population: 1,460
Median Income: $125,987 (1st Best)
Median Home Value: $1,158,316 (2nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%
3. Dalton Gardens
/10
Population: 2,496
Median Income: $80,000 (12th Best)
Median Home Value: $908,677 (3rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.1%
4. Iona
/10
Population: 2,984
Median Income: $84,914 (8th Best)
Median Home Value: $431,905 (22nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.0%
5. Ucon
/10
Population: 1,606
Median Income: $89,079 (6th Best)
Median Home Value: $385,475 (32nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.4%
6. Genesee
/10
Population: 1,265
Median Income: $85,673 (7th Best)
Median Home Value: $450,904 (20th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.1%
7. Malad City
/10
Population: 2,601
Median Income: $77,237 (15th Best)
Median Home Value: $337,619 (39th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.4%
8. Sugar City
/10
Population: 2,122
Median Income: $66,953 (26th Best)
Median Home Value: $383,375 (33rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.9%
9. New Plymouth
/10
Population: 1,794
Median Income: $65,375 (29th Best)
Median Home Value: $493,609 (16th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.9%
10. Robie Creek
/10
Population: 1,213
Median Income: $106,250 (2nd Best)
Median Home Value: $661,945 (8th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.2%
11. Lincoln
/10
Population: 4,002
Median Income: $84,280 (9th Best)
Median Home Value: $426,861 (23rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.5%
12. Filer
/10
Population: 2,925
Median Income: $64,671 (31st Best)
Median Home Value: $414,707 (26th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.7%
13. Driggs
/10
Population: 2,925
Median Income: $95,392 (3rd Best)
Median Home Value: $801,776 (5th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.1%
14. Franklin
Population: 1,034
Median Income: $81,830 (11th Best)
Median Home Value: $409,275 (27th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 6.2%
15. Tyhee
/10
Population: 1,568
Median Income: $93,125 (4th Best)
Median Home Value: $521,279 (12th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 5.4%
Methodology: How We Determined The Coolest Towns In Idaho
We threw a lot of criteria at this report to get the best, most complete results of the best small towns in Idaho possible.
Using the most recent data from the Census’s 2020-2024 American Community Survey, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Saturday Night Science, this is the criteria we used:
- Population Density (Higher is better)
- Lowest Unemployment Rates
- Housing costs (Higher is better. More demand.)
- Adjusted Median Income (Higher is better)
- Highly Educated Adults (Higher is better)
- Insurance Rates (Higher is better)
- Commute Times (Lower is better)
We looked at places with populations lower than 5,000 people and greater than 1,000, of which there were many – 64 to be exact.
We then ranked each place in each category with scores from 1 to 64, averaged them out, and the lowest scores went to our Best Small Towns in Idaho. Top of that list — Ketchum.
This is our eleventh time ranking the best small places to live in Idaho.
Summary: Science Can Tackle Any Issue, Even Small Ones
We said it once, and we’ll say it again — this list: it’s just science. We did the research, crunched the numbers, and it turns out these 15 small towns in Idaho are the best in which to live.
And who can argue with that?
The best small towns in Idaho are Ketchum, Sun Valley, Dalton Gardens, Iona, Ucon, Genesee, Malad City, Sugar City, New Plymouth, and Robie Creek.
If you’re curious, here are the worst small towns in Idaho:
- Kellogg
- Fort Hall
- Cascade
For more Idaho reading, check out:
Best Small Towns In Idaho
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Median Home Value | Unemployment Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ketchum, ID | 3,594 | $93,046 | 0.0% | |
| 2 | Sun Valley, ID | 1,460 | $125,987 | 0.0% | |
| 3 | Dalton Gardens, ID | 2,496 | $80,000 | 1.1% | |
| 4 | Iona, ID | 2,984 | $84,914 | 1.0% | |
| 5 | Ucon, ID | 1,606 | $89,079 | 1.4% | |
| 6 | Genesee, ID | 1,265 | $85,673 | 4.1% | |
| 7 | Malad City, ID | 2,601 | $77,237 | 1.4% | |
| 8 | Sugar City, ID | 2,122 | $66,953 | 1.9% | |
| 9 | New Plymouth, ID | 1,794 | $65,375 | 3.9% | |
| 10 | Robie Creek, ID | 1,213 | $106,250 | 3.2% | |
| 11 | Lincoln, ID | 4,002 | $84,280 | 4.5% | |
| 12 | Filer, ID | 2,925 | $64,671 | 0.7% | |
| 13 | Driggs, ID | 2,925 | $95,392 | 2.1% | |
| 14 | Franklin, ID | 1,034 | $81,830 | 6.2% | |
| 15 | Tyhee, ID | 1,568 | $93,125 | 5.4% | |
| 16 | Mountain Home Afb, ID | 3,219 | $74,196 | 5.8% | |
| 17 | Grangeville, ID | 3,515 | $61,322 | 2.0% | |
| 18 | Bellevue, ID | 2,588 | $72,712 | 5.2% | |
| 19 | Mccall, ID | 3,946 | $60,253 | 5.4% | |
| 20 | Groveland, ID | 1,422 | $76,094 | 4.7% | |
| 21 | St. Maries, ID | 2,915 | $60,458 | 5.0% | |
| 22 | Hagerman, ID | 1,276 | $59,808 | 3.8% | |
| 23 | Kootenai, ID | 1,022 | $70,885 | 5.5% | |
| 24 | Ashton, ID | 1,417 | $65,428 | 5.4% | |
| 25 | Ririe, ID | 1,079 | $67,123 | 1.6% | |
| 26 | Paul, ID | 1,586 | $66,500 | 0.8% | |
| 27 | Victor, ID | 3,067 | $77,267 | 1.0% | |
| 28 | Salmon, ID | 3,203 | $42,844 | 3.0% | |
| 29 | Greenleaf, ID | 1,482 | $69,141 | 3.7% | |
| 30 | Bonners Ferry, ID | 2,669 | $52,500 | 0.7% | |
| 31 | Spirit Lake, ID | 1,972 | $65,192 | 3.7% | |
| 32 | Grace, ID | 1,349 | $72,885 | 2.3% | |
| 33 | Soda Springs, ID | 3,158 | $57,361 | 1.0% | |
| 34 | Priest River, ID | 1,778 | $58,782 | 1.9% | |
| 35 | Pinehurst, ID | 2,120 | $68,676 | 1.3% | |
| 36 | Lapwai, ID | 1,021 | $57,439 | 3.4% | |
| 37 | Cottonwood, ID | 1,131 | $79,271 | 9.3% | |
| 38 | Wilder, ID | 2,074 | $55,117 | 0.4% | |
| 39 | American Falls, ID | 4,712 | $57,783 | 7.3% | |
| 40 | Marsing, ID | 1,306 | $70,202 | 1.7% | |
| 41 | Hansen, ID | 1,225 | $50,083 | 1.1% | |
| 42 | Moyie Springs, ID | 1,378 | $61,615 | 7.0% | |
| 43 | Buhl, ID | 4,673 | $55,568 | 5.4% | |
| 44 | Parma, ID | 1,928 | $49,231 | 3.6% | |
| 45 | Orofino, ID | 3,260 | $53,438 | 6.5% | |
| 46 | Heyburn, ID | 3,693 | $64,179 | 4.5% | |
| 47 | Osburn, ID | 1,620 | $50,673 | 2.2% | |
| 48 | Carey, ID | 1,196 | $59,375 | 6.8% | |
| 49 | Montpelier, ID | 2,694 | $61,375 | 3.4% | |
| 50 | Wendell, ID | 2,981 | $57,266 | 6.4% | |
| 51 | Kamiah, ID | 1,084 | $36,071 | 4.6% | |
| 52 | Moreland, ID | 1,326 | $60,682 | 0.0% | |
| 53 | Wallace, ID | 1,027 | $51,492 | 5.7% | |
| 54 | Shoshone, ID | 1,911 | $69,392 | 8.6% | |
| 55 | Aberdeen, ID | 2,564 | $82,619 | 8.0% | |
| 56 | Ponderay, ID | 1,534 | $51,346 | 6.5% | |
| 57 | Plummer, ID | 1,162 | $54,306 | 5.4% | |
| 58 | Gooding, ID | 3,778 | $41,899 | 3.3% | |
| 59 | St. Anthony, ID | 3,911 | $53,152 | 6.3% | |
| 60 | Homedale, ID | 3,069 | $62,117 | 5.6% | |
| 61 | Glenns Ferry, ID | 1,438 | $51,840 | 1.1% | |
| 62 | Cascade, ID | 1,118 | $53,750 | 8.8% | |
| 63 | Fort Hall, ID | 2,654 | $44,514 | 13.3% | |
| 64 | Kellogg, ID | 2,307 | $50,625 | 10.8% |