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Rankings are computed from publicly available federal and state government datasets, supplemented by a handful of published indexes (such as the Tax Foundation, Child Care Aware of America and Zillow Research). Figures are used as each source publishes them, including the FBI's own state crime estimates; nothing is synthetic or modeled by us, and every source is cited below.

  • Bureau of Labor Statistics, LAUS annual averages·
  • U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 1-year·
  • FBI Crime Data Explorer, estimated crimes by state·
  • CDC NCHS U.S. State Life Tables·
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  • U.S. Census Bureau, Net Domestic Migration·
  • U.S. Census Bureau, ACS Broadband Subscriptions·
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  • U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns·
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  • FHWA Highway Statistics·
  • U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns·
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  • Child Care Aware of America, Price & Supply·
  • Tax Foundation, State Income Tax Rates and Brackets·
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  • EDFacts ACGR Graduation Rates·
  • NCES School District Finance Survey (F-33)·
  • BEA GDP by State (SAGDP9)·
  • NASBO Fiscal Survey of States·
  • Census Bureau State Government Finances·
  • Pew Charitable Trusts Fiscal 50·
  • Pew Charitable Trusts, State Pension Funding·
  • S&P/Moody's via Ballotpedia·
  • Bureau of Labor Statistics, OES·
  • IRS Statistics of Income, State-to-State Migration·
  • U.S. Census Bureau, ACS State-to-State Migration Flows·
  • Zillow Research, Home Values, Rents & Market Metrics·
  • FBI Crime Data Explorer, city police agency reports·
  • CDC PLACES, city health estimates·
  • NOAA U.S. Climate Normals·
  • EPA National Walkability Index
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Home/ID/Best for Remote Workers
Idaho · best for remote workers · #3 of 50 states

Best Cities for Remote Workers in Idaho

Idaho ranks #3 of 50 for remote workers, with a remote workers score of 80.2. Meridian is its best city for remote workers at 64.8.

See all 50 states for remote workers →

#1 city in ID for remote workers
Meridian64.8
Remote Workers score out of 100
Idaho, all states
#3 of 50
Population
130,138
Open Meridian →
Cost of living
95.5
BEA RPP · 100 = avg
Broadband
92.8%
Households subscribed · Census ACS
Work from home
12.7%
Census ACS
Tax burden
7.54%
% of income
Outdoor score
50/100
Parks + trails + land

Why Idaho Works for Remote Workers

Idaho ranks #3 out of 50 for remote workers — one of the best environments in the country for location-independent professionals. Remote work fundamentally changes the relocation calculus: when your salary comes from elsewhere, what matters is how far it stretches locally and how good daily life feels. Idaho's cost of living (index: 95.5) is near the national average, so a remote salary doesn't gain or lose much purchasing power here.

The high work-from-home rate of 12.7% suggests an established remote work culture with coworking spaces and digital infrastructure already in place. 92.8% of households have a broadband subscription, at or above the 50-state average, so home internet is widely adopted.

The tax environment is favorable at 7.54% of income, letting remote workers keep more of their earnings. Housing affordability (score: 72/100) is a clear advantage — the typical home is worth $478,744, a manageable ratio for most remote salaries.

All 20 Cities Ranked for Remote Workers

#  CityGradeRemote Workers scoreOverallAffordabilityEconomyPopulation
1MeridianA64.864.75470130,138
2CaldwellB64.257.3685166,516
3EagleB+63.462.6457732,855
4Idaho FallsB+63.359.0745667,725
5NampaB63.058.66655110,319
6Twin FallsB62.856.3765054,164
7Boise CityA62.564.46161237,242
8KunaB+62.159.9596527,158
9Post FallsB61.258.0615143,391
10Coeur d'AleneB+60.959.9615056,447
11JeromeC60.150.4812812,930
12StarB+59.760.5525514,745
13LewistonB59.458.3765434,651
14ChubbuckB59.256.3774216,126
15MoscowB+59.160.3755126,286
16PocatelloC+57.455.1814657,635
17HaydenB56.955.9574216,338
18AmmonC56.252.2684519,064
19RexburgC+53.654.9744340,543
20Mountain HomeD45.648.0752516,493

City remote workers scores use each city's own data, with the category weights rescaled over the categories the city has; outdoor access has no city-level measure and is left out.

Compare: States with Similar Remote Workers Rankings

  • WyomingRemote Workers score 83.6#1
  • South DakotaRemote Workers score 83.3#2
  • MontanaRemote Workers score 76.6#4
  • North DakotaRemote Workers score 73.2#5

Also See: Idaho for Other Lifestyles

  • FamiliesFamilies score 80.6#7
  • RetireesRetirees score 84.8#2
  • Young ProfessionalsYoung Professionals score 77.2#2
  • Small BusinessSmall Business score 80.2#2
  • Outdoor EnthusiastsOutdoor Enthusiasts score 78.6#4

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Idaho a good state for remote workers?

Idaho ranks #3 out of 50 for remote workers with a persona-weighted score of 80.2/100. Its strongest relevant category is Safety (87/100) and its weakest is Livability (40/100).

What is the best city for remote workers in Idaho?

Meridian ranks #1 in Idaho for remote workers with a score of 64.8/100, followed by Caldwell and Eagle.

What factors are most important for remote workers in Idaho?

Rankings weighted toward affordable cost of living, strong economy, outdoor access, livability, low taxes, and safe communities — what remote workers prioritize when choosing where to live.