Income needed to buy a house in Idaho
A median-priced home in Idaho costs $446,400. With 20% down you'd need about $115,244 a year, $34,078 more than the state's median household income of $81,166. Idaho ranks #35 of 51 for the lowest income needed.
Income needed: $115,244 a year
Defaults: state median home value and property tax (Census ACS 2024), median homeowners insurance paid by owners with a mortgage (Census ACS 2024; quotes vary by home and ZIP code), 30-year rate 7.24% (Freddie Mac, week of 2026-10-29).
Estimated household income: about $115,244 a year for a $446,400 home in Idaho with $89,280 down.
Uses a 28/36 planning rule: modeled housing costs at 28% of gross income, housing plus other debt payments at 36%. Mortgage approval depends on the lender, loan program, credit and other circumstances. Excludes maintenance, repairs and utilities.
| Monthly cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| Principal & interest | $2,434 |
| Property tax | $159 |
| Homeowners insurance | $96 |
| Total | $2,689 |
Monthly cost by down payment
| Down payment | Cash down | Monthly cost | Income needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5% | $22,320 | $3,322 | $142,373 |
| 10% | $44,640 | $3,161 | $135,456 |
| 20% | $89,280 | $2,689 | $115,244 |
Income benchmarks use the 28/36 planning rule with no HOA or other debt payments. Mortgage approval depends on the lender and loan program. Monthly costs exclude maintenance, repairs and utilities. Under 20% down includes estimated private mortgage insurance of 0.5% of the loan per year.
Buying in Idaho: what's different
- Transfer tax
- None
- On the median home
- $0
- Homestead break
- 50% off, up to $125,000
- First-time buyer help
- Idaho Housing and Finance Association
- Transfer and recording taxes. Idaho has no transfer tax. The county recorder charges a flat $15 to record a deed of up to 30 pages.
- Property tax breaks for your home. The homeowner's exemption takes 50% off the value of your home and up to one acre of land, to a maximum of $125,000. Apply once with the county assessor; it lasts until the home changes hands or stops being your main home.
- First-time buyer help. The Idaho Housing and Finance Association offers mortgages and down payment help for first-time buyers through participating lenders. Check its site for income and price limits.
Checked against official sources on September 25, 2026. Local transfer taxes and exemptions vary, so confirm with the county before you close.
Home prices in Idaho's largest metro area
| Metro area | Income needed | Median home value | Median household income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise, ID | $124,922 | $484,000 | $88,695 |
The median home in the Boise area is worth $484,000, 8% more than the statewide median, and takes about $124,922 a year to buy with 20% down.
Metro medians from Census ACS 2024 cover the whole metro area, including any part in a neighboring state. Income needed: 20% down at 7.24%, the metro's median property tax and its main state's median homeowners insurance for homes with a mortgage (Census ACS 2024), under the 28% rule.
What makes owning in Idaho more expensive than most states
- Home prices: the median value of $446,400 is 24% above the U.S. median of $360,600.
- Property tax: about 0.43% of value a year ($159 a month on the median home).
- Insurance: owners with a mortgage paid a median $1,151 a year for homeowners insurance in 2024 (Census ACS). Premiums have risen in most states since then, and they vary a lot by home and ZIP code, so get quotes.
- Mortgage rate: each 1-point rise in rates adds roughly $247 a month on this loan.
23 states need at least 20% less income to buy their median home. States with a similar income requirement:
Frequently asked questions
How much do you need to make to buy a house in Idaho?
About $115,244 a year for the median home of $446,400 with 20% down at 7.24%. With 10% down it's about $135,456.
What is the property tax rate in Idaho?
The median Idaho homeowner pays $1,912 a year, about 0.43% of the median home value (Census ACS 2024). Rates vary by county and city.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Idaho?
Median rent is $1,384 a month, while owning the median home costs about $2,689 a month with 20% down, before maintenance. Renting affordably takes about $55,360 a year under the 30% rule.