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Idaho Real Estate For Sale
Idaho is one of those states that fly under the radar for most Americans. It takes up a huge chunk of the map, but it rarely makes it into the news or onto the silver screen. Thanks to its low-key profile, Idaho real estate is one of the U.S.'s best-kept secrets. Idaho is a breathtakingly beautiful state with a rich cultural history, never-ending stretches of pristine wilderness, and several charming small cities attracting more and more Americans from all corners of the country. If you’re interested in Idaho homes for sale, we’ve compiled everything you need to know to get started on your journey of making Idaho your new home.
More About Idaho
Idaho is shaped like Virginia but put on its side. It’s long and narrow north with a panhandle like Oklahoma and broad in the south. Virtually all the cities in Idaho are found in the state’s southern portion, along with most arable farmland, roads, and people in general. The southern part of the state is arid, similar to northern Utah, while the northern part of the state is heavily forested with pines and conifers.
Idaho Real Estate Market
The real estate market in Idaho has seen unprecedented home appreciation rates in recent years, with values rising nearly 20% in 2021 alone. The average home price in Idaho is $593,000, significantly higher than the national average of $391,000. Most analysts expect Idaho’s home appreciation rates to taper off in the near future and settle into typical, pre-pandemic growth trends.
South Idaho real estate market is significantly hotter than in the north. Houses in the south of Idaho spend around forty days on the market before they’re sold, while in the north it takes twice as long to sell a house on average. Demand for Idaho real estate has increased across the board in all parts of the state as Americans started to wake up to the benefits of living in such a beautiful state. For the foreseeable future, it’s safe to say that Idaho real estate is firmly in a seller’s market.
41% of homes for sale in Idaho are three bedrooms, while one and two-bedroom houses make up sizable portions of Idaho real estate. Most homes are single-family detached, as you might expect in such a rural state, but you can still find some condos and townhomes for sale in Idaho in cities like Boise, Pocatello, and Twin Falls.
Major Cities In Idaho
Boise
Idaho’s capital city, as well as its largest, is a literal forested oasis rising out of the western deserts of the state. With a population of 235,000, Boise can feel like a small town which is great for any newcomers who want a city that they can feel comfortable in and quickly get to know. Boise real estate has the most access to jobs, new housing, and for you nature lovers the mountains are only ten miles away to the north. They’re hard to miss, you’ll see them every day. The average price for a single-family house for sale in Boise is $534,000.
Twin Falls
Head further east from Boise along the Snake River, and you’ll come to the city of Twin Falls. Like so many other small cities in Idaho, Twin Falls is another example of a city-forming the center of gravity of all the farming communities spread around the Snake River. With a population of 44,000, Twin Falls is a city only by the standards of the West, so if you’re not really a city person but you want to relocate to Idaho this might be the place for you. Twin Falls has been diversifying its economy away from solely relying on agriculture towards industries like manufacturing and renewable energy. The average price for a single family home for sale in Twin Falls real estate is $366,000.
Pocatello
Head further east along the (you guessed it) Snake River and you’ll come to the city of Pocatello. Pocatello is small-town America incarnate, with your typical main street lined with brick and mortar shops and restaurants surrounded by sleepy side streets. The average price for single-family homes for sale in Pocatello is $290,000.
Coeur d’Alene
Located way up north towards the Canadian border, Coeur d’Alene is the city for you if you want to get far away from everyone else while still staying near urban amenities. A city of just over fifty thousand people, Coeur d’Alene is understandably proud of its independent nature and its unique location by a beautiful lake and impressive mountains. Interstate 90 runs right by the city, which helps keep Coeur d’Alene connected to the rest of the country. Coeur-d’Alene has some of the most valuable real estate in Idaho, with an average home price of $579,000.
Schools In Idaho
For the last five years, Idaho has been revolutionizing its school system and drawing national applause for its great strides in giving its students all the opportunities they need to excel in the modern world. We’ve gone in and found the best school districts in Idaho so that you can couple your Idaho real estate search with the foresight of the best educational opportunities in the state.
Post Falls School District is rated the best public school system in the state. Post Falls School District comprises an area just west of Coeur-d’Alene on the border with Oregon. It has over ten schools at both elementary and high school level and has a graduation rate of 95%.
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Jefferson Joint School District
Based around the city of Rigby in eastern Idaho, Jefferson Joint is the second best school district in Idaho, with nine schools at elementary, middle, and high school levels. Not only does Jefferson Joint School District have a higher-than-average graduation rate, it also has language immersion classes in both Spanish and Chinese! -
Madison School District
The third best school district in Idaho, MSD is based in Rexburg, just up the road from Rigby. What sets Madison School District apart from other Idaho school districts is its inclusion of an online academy in addition to its ten normal schools. -
Blaine County School District
Blaine County School District serves a student body of well over 3,000 students in eight schools. Blaine County is located right in the heart of southern Idaho, and despite its rural circumstances, the Blaine County School District consistently sees some of the highest ISAT and STAR scores in the whole state. -
Lakeland Joint School District
Just north of Coeur-d'Alene, Lakeland Joint School District serves a rapidly growing student body with over eleven schools at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. This school district takes great pride in academics and athletics.
FAQ About Idaho Real Estate
Where are the top commercial airports in Idaho?
- Boise - Boise Airport
- Hailey/Sun Valley - Friedman Memorial Airport
- Idaho Falls - Idaho Falls Regional Airport Lewiston
- Pocatello - Pocatello Regional Airport
- Twin Falls - Magic Valley Regional Airport
What is the most affordable city in Idaho?
The most affordable cities in Idaho are Blackfoot, Payette, and Burley. If you're looking for affordable real estate in Idaho, aim to live in any of the small towns built up around the Snake River and I-84.
Which Idaho city has the best school district?
The number one school district in Idaho is the Post Falls School District just west of Coeur-d'Alene.
Things To Do In Idaho
If staying close to the great outdoors is a top priority for you, Idaho might just be the best state in the Union to call home. You can drive twenty minutes in any direction from any place in Idaho real estate and find yourself in an environment fit for a landscape painting or a special on National Geographic. Hiking, fly-fishing, hunting, horseback riding, and tent camping are all common pastimes that you and your neighbors can take advantage of throughout the year.
That being said, Idaho is more than just its parkland. Downtown Boise is fast-growing into a lively spot for nightlife, especially as more young people move to the area. Boise is a modern city with sleek skyscrapers and all the popular amenities you want in an American city.
Idaho Fun Facts
- Idaho produces ⅓ of all the potatoes grown in the country.
- Preston, Idaho is the setting for the hit 2004 comedy Napoleon Dynamite.
- Controversy surrounds the origin of the name Idaho. Most likely the name derives from a little girl named Ida.
Climate In Idaho
Like other states that straddle the spine of the Rocky Mountains, Idaho’s climate is as variable as they come. In the west and south, you’ll find arid desert landscapes. Head into the mountains, and you might be forgiven for thinking you’re in the alps, and up north you can find luscious forests of pine and firs. Idaho’s climate rarely dips into extremes. The winters can be cold but not brutal, and the summers can be hot but not oppressive. Expect plenty of snow and rain in the north while plenty of sunny days in the south.
Job Market In Idaho
As one of the fastest-growing states in the country, Idaho’s economy has been expanding at a steady rate for the last ten years, drawing in immigrants from all industries. That being said, the economy still rests mainly on agriculture and resource extraction; two lines of work that form the fundamental hardworking core of Idaho’s character.