Quick answer
Texas has lower average 1BR rent ($1,327/mo vs $1,380/mo). State income tax: Texas (None) vs Idaho (5.8%) — on a $120K salary that's $6,960/year difference.
State Comparison · 2026
Idaho vs Texas
Side-by-side on state income tax, rent, home prices, climate, and top metros — with specific dollar numbers for every claim.
Last updated: April 23, 2026
Idaho vs Texas at a Glance
| Metric | Idaho | Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Avg 1BR rent (major metros) | $1,380 | $1,327 ✓ |
| Avg median home price | $445K | $379K ✓ |
| Cheapest city | Boise ($1,380) | El Paso ($1,050) ✓ |
| Priciest city | Boise ($1,380) | Austin ($1,650) |
| State income tax | 5.8% | None ✓ |
| Avg walkability | 42/100 | 45/100 ✓ |
| Cities tracked | 1 | 7 |
✓ marks the lower or more favorable value. Averages use the major metros we track in each state.
State Income Tax: Real Savings
What the rate gap actually looks like in your paycheck. Lower rate: Texas (None).
Salary $80K
$4,640
/year saved in Texas
Salary $120K
$6,960
/year saved in Texas
Salary $200K
$11,600
/year saved in Texas
Calculation uses the effective state rate difference × gross salary. Doesn't include property tax, sales tax, or federal impact.
Deep Dive: Each State
Idaho (ID)
Tax reality
Idaho has a 5.8% flat state income tax (moderate). Property tax is low (~0.6% effective). Sales tax 6%. No estate tax. Overall moderate tax burden.
Top cities (1 tracked)
Top drawbacks
- ✕Housing growth has outpaced wage growth. Long-time Idaho residents have been priced out of Boise proper.
- ✕Summer wildfire smoke affects air quality regularly — July through September can have multiple weeks of AQI 150-200+.
- ✕Idaho is deeply conservative politically, with some policy shifts (abortion, LGBTQ+, religion in schools) recently tightening. Boise specifically leans moderate; the rest of the state is more conservative.
Texas (TX)
Tax reality
Texas has no state income tax — on $100K that's roughly $5,000-$9,000/year you keep vs California. The catch: Texas property tax averages 1.6-2.3% annually, among the highest in the US. For renters, it's a pure win. For homeowners, a $450K home costs you $7,200-$10,300/year in property tax.
Top cities (7 tracked)
Top drawbacks
- ✕Summer heat is genuinely dangerous — 100°F+ days stretch from June through September, and the grid has failed multiple times (Uri 2021, summer 2023). Outdoor time is limited to early morning or after sundown.
- ✕Property taxes are the trade-off for no income tax. On a $450K home you'll pay $7,500-$10,500/year in property taxes — the highest in the country alongside New Jersey and Illinois.
- ✕Car dependency is near-total outside a few Austin and Houston neighborhoods. You will drive everywhere, including to the grocery store. Expect $400-$600/mo in all-in car costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Idaho or Texas cheaper to live in?
Texas has lower average 1BR rent across major metros — $1,327/mo vs $1,380/mo in Idaho, a $53/mo difference. Home prices: Texas median is $379K vs $445K.
Idaho vs Texas: which has lower state income tax?
Texas has lower state income tax (None) vs 5.8% in Idaho. On an $80K salary that's $4,640/year in savings. On $200K, savings grow to $11,600/year.
Should I move from Idaho to Texas?
Idaho has a 5.8% flat state income tax (moderate). Property tax is low (~0.6% effective). Sales tax 6%. No estate tax. Overall moderate tax burden.
What are the best cities in Idaho vs Texas?
Idaho's largest metros include Boise. Texas's largest metros include Austin, Houston, Dallas. Cost of living varies significantly within each state — a Idaho suburb can be 40% cheaper than its flagship city, and vice versa.