The 15 Best Small Towns to Retire in Idaho

Ranked on The Town Files lifestyle rankings among 36 towns of 500–10,000 people in Idaho. #1 is Ketchum, ID.

1. 15Sandpoint, Idaho

   Better for retirees than 62% of Idaho towns

   Sandpoint is a city of 8,639 people in Bonner County, Idaho. It also ranks hipper than 99% of Idaho towns and better for cycling than 99% of Idaho towns.

   8,639 people · Bonner County · median home $465,600 · income $72,289 · Jan low 23°F · 62 in snow

   Full Sandpoint, Idaho profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

2. 14Payette, Idaho

   Better for retirees than 63% of Idaho towns

   Payette is a city of 8,127 people in Payette County, Idaho. It also ranks better for first-time buyers than 84% of Idaho towns and easier by car than 81% of Idaho towns.

   8,127 people · Payette County · median home $276,500 · income $55,208 · Jan low 24°F · 15 in snow

   Full Payette, Idaho profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

3. 13Buhl, Idaho

   Better for retirees than 65% of Idaho towns

   Buhl is a city of 4,558 people in Twin Falls County, Idaho. It also ranks hipper than 98% of Idaho towns and more walkable than 93% of Idaho towns.

   4,558 people · Twin Falls County · median home $247,500 · income $55,568 · Jan low 22°F · 24 in snow

   Full Buhl, Idaho profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

4. 12Montpelier, Idaho

   Better for retirees than 68% of Idaho towns

   Montpelier is a city of 2,643 people in Bear Lake County, Idaho. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 86% of Idaho towns and better for first-time buyers than 72% of Idaho towns.

   2,643 people · Bear Lake County · median home $240,300 · income $61,375 · Jan low 7°F · 91 in snow

   Full Montpelier, Idaho profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

5. 11Emmett, Idaho

   Better for retirees than 69% of Idaho towns

   Emmett is a city of 7,647 people in Gem County, Idaho. It also ranks more walkable than 85% of Idaho towns and hipper than 85% of Idaho towns.

   7,647 people · Gem County · median home $342,000 · income $58,750 · Jan low 23°F · 7 in snow

   Full Emmett, Idaho profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

6. 10Hailey, Idaho

   Better for retirees than 75% of Idaho towns

   

   Hailey is a city of 9,161 people in Blaine County, Idaho. It also ranks better for cycling than 97% of Idaho towns and hipper than 91% of Idaho towns.

   9,161 people · Blaine County · median home $637,800 · income $90,760 · Jan low 16°F · 85 in snow

   Full Hailey, Idaho profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

7. 9McCall, Idaho

   Better for retirees than 76% of Idaho towns

   McCall is a city of 3,686 people in Valley County, Idaho. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 100% of Idaho towns and better for cycling than 91% of Idaho towns.

   3,686 people · Valley County · median home $676,500 · income $60,253 · Jan low 14°F · 132 in snow

   Full McCall, Idaho profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

8. 8Bonners Ferry, Idaho

   Better for retirees than 80% of Idaho towns

   

   Bonners Ferry is a city of 2,520 people in Boundary County, Idaho. It also ranks better for cycling than 83% of Idaho towns and quieter than 77% of Idaho towns.

   2,520 people · Boundary County · median home $281,400 · income $52,500 · Jan low 24°F · 54 in snow

   Full Bonners Ferry, Idaho profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

9. 7Dalton Gardens, Idaho

   Better for retirees than 82% of Idaho towns

   Dalton Gardens is a city of 2,537 people in Kootenai County, Idaho. It also ranks more upscale than 90% of Idaho towns and more of a college town than 88% of Idaho towns.

   2,537 people · Kootenai County · median home $803,600 · income $80,000 · Jan low 26°F · 27 in snow

   Full Dalton Gardens, Idaho profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

10. 6Orofino, Idaho

    Better for retirees than 84% of Idaho towns

    

    Orofino is a city of 2,656 people in Clearwater County, Idaho. It also ranks hipper than 92% of Idaho towns.

    2,656 people · Clearwater County · median home $223,400 · income $53,438 · Jan low 28°F · 18 in snow

    Full Orofino, Idaho profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

11. 5Salmon, Idaho

    Better for retirees than 86% of Idaho towns

    Salmon is a city of 3,119 people in Lemhi County, Idaho. It also ranks quieter than 84% of Idaho towns and hipper than 79% of Idaho towns.

    3,119 people · Lemhi County · median home $235,500 · income $42,844 · Jan low 11°F · 22 in snow

    Full Salmon, Idaho profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

12. 4Weiser, Idaho

    Better for retirees than 88% of Idaho towns

    Weiser is a city of 5,630 people in Washington County, Idaho. It also ranks better for cycling than 94% of Idaho towns and better transit than 77% of Idaho towns.

    5,630 people · Washington County · median home $223,400 · income $45,292 · Jan low 23°F · 15 in snow

    Full Weiser, Idaho profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

13. 3Hidden Springs, Idaho

    Better for retirees than 91% of Idaho towns

    Hidden Springs is a community of 3,076 people in Ada County, Idaho. It also ranks better for families than 99% of Idaho towns and more upscale than 99% of Idaho towns.

    3,076 people · Ada County · median home $773,500 · income $163,203 · Jan low 24°F · 57 in snow

    Full Hidden Springs, Idaho profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

14. 2Grangeville, Idaho

    Better for retirees than 98% of Idaho towns

    Grangeville is a city of 3,308 people in Idaho County, Idaho. It also ranks better for first-time buyers than 82% of Idaho towns and quieter than 76% of Idaho towns.

    3,308 people · Idaho County · median home $293,300 · income $61,322 · Jan low 25°F · 39 in snow

    Full Grangeville, Idaho profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

15. 1Ketchum, Idaho

    Better for retirees than 99% of Idaho towns

    Ketchum is a city of 3,555 people in Blaine County, Idaho. It also ranks better for cycling than 100% of Idaho towns and quieter than 99% of Idaho towns.

    3,555 people · Blaine County · median home $824,000 · income $93,046 · Jan low 8°F · 102 in snow

    Full Ketchum, Idaho profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

Price vs ranking

More Idaho rankings

• The 11 Quietest Small Towns in Idaho
• The 12 Most Affordable Small Towns in Idaho
• The 12 Best Small Towns for Families in Idaho
• 15 Small Towns in Idaho With the Cheapest Homes
• 12 Small Towns in Idaho With the Mildest Winters
• The 18 Most Walkable Small Towns in Idaho
• The 13 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Idaho

Same ranking, other places

• The 50 Best Small Towns to Retire in America
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Pennsylvania
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in New York
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Michigan
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Texas
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in California
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in New Jersey
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Florida
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Wisconsin
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Ohio