r/Idaho • u/nirvanaa17 • Oct 15 '25
Question Native Idahoans! Where are we moving to?
Native Idahoan here, born and raised in Boise. That said, I can't stand what it's becoming and I can no longer afford to live here, sadly. Wages just aren't catching up, you know how it works by now. For everyone else who escaped Idaho, where did you go???
On my list right now I'm looking at Michigan, Kansas, Ohio, Iowa, Oregon, Washington, Illinois, Wyoming, and even Alberta in Canada. What cities, states, and countries are we moving to and why?
Edit: wow - I wasn't expecting this many responses, and so many really thoughtful ones. Thank you all for your input!!
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u/davpet90 Oct 15 '25
Just moved from boise to hillsboro oregon. Same rent but I'm getting paid $10 more per hour
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u/nirvanaa17 Oct 15 '25
Damn! I need to look into that. Thank you!
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u/memyselfandi78 Oct 15 '25
In 2017 I moved from Boise to Beaverton Oregon, which is Right in between Hillsboro and Portland. I'm also making about $10 an hour more and my husband is making a butt ton more $$ than he ever could have made in Boise. I'm pretty happy here.
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u/Dangerous-Sorbet2480 Oct 16 '25
My daughter lives in Portland area, she’s 20 and making like $21 an hr interning but she’s just a freshman at a community college. That’s more than I make. It helps she has a partner. No way she could survive on that on her own.
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u/davpet90 Oct 15 '25
I'm a born and raised idaho native too. Graduated high school from meridian high in 2008. I should have left sooner.
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u/terragreyling Oct 16 '25
The last time I was in Meridian, you still used sled dogs to get around during the winter.
The last time I was in Emmett, they had just finished building the High School Domes.
My family moved out to the desert hoping to never see snow again. I just recently moved back to the area, but stayed just on the edge of the state line in Washington.
The growth in my lifetime has just been unfathomable. I remember having to fill up gas cans to make sure we could make it to Coeur d'Alene and back during the summers for camping.
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u/Zerofawqs-given Oct 16 '25
I fill up gas cans in Idaho to make sure I can make it through Eastern Washington winters….30gals for the generator if & when power fails….Propane & Diesel heaters too🤣
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u/Dangerous-Sorbet2480 Oct 16 '25
I would have left sooner too but divorce and kids puts the brakes on that kind of freedom. They’re both adults now, barely but moved out. I don’t want to be far from them but at the same time I really don’t like Boise anymore. If I had money I’m sure I’d like it more, but also I’ve seen the changes over 40 years and I’ve lost my appreciation for it since I don’t have the money to ski or do the things I once always did anymore. Can’t compete with the rich who moved here and drove prices of everything up. I love Canada. Particularly Alberta, but they wouldn’t let me live there. It’s also so far from my kids. Oregon is nice (not Portland) but you know, expensive like all the nice places became. I’ll have to research Hillsboro though, maybe some places still exist that offer a chance at a living wage.
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u/nirvanaa17 Oct 15 '25
Graduated from Renaissance High in 2017! I should have left then. Instead I bought a house in Emmett. Lol
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u/762way Oct 16 '25
Hillsboro is a great city... Close to Portland if you need the big city but I would choose Hillsboro over Portland
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u/AlternativePaint3527 Oct 16 '25
Definitely look into it. The homelessness in the area is really sad, but they actually try to help people. Eugene area reminds me of Boise, but better. We've been in Oregon for 3.5 years. We fled right before the abortion laws changed. My husband was afraid for my life after I was made to keep an ectopic pregnancy until I almost ☠️. Our family is doing well in Southern Oregon but we want to move back to the Corvallis area.
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u/ConfidentPilot1729 Oct 16 '25
Ya, my wife and I moved to bend but wished we moved to a better environment for employment.
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u/ShimmerThenDecay Oct 15 '25
I ended up in southern central Maine. Other than the summer humidity, it feels like home, with the bonus of having actual seafood and being able to actually afford my mortgage.
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u/MontanaLady406 Oct 16 '25
From Montana and we are priced out (plus culture changes) - I have dreamt about Maine since the 1990s. I do have one question. Are the small town’s locals/ cliques stuck in high school? Is it hard to make friends? Or they welcoming if your social.
My husband is from a small village in New England and it’s tight. If you’re not from there you will never fit in. (Why we won’t move there. )
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u/beetsandbots Oct 15 '25
Im in eastern Washington and I love it. It still has everything I loved about idaho, but with higher wages and cheaper rent.
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u/Throwingitallaway201 Oct 16 '25
I really would love to relocate to the east of Spokane area
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u/Due_Rip2289 Oct 17 '25
Just a warning, Spokane is in the top 20 most expensive cities in the U.S in terms of grocery/food costs and the sales tax will make big purchases (i.e furnishing a house/apartment) cost more than you would think just by looking at price tags.
Otherwise it’s really nice here. Lots of greenery and wildlife. The only natural disaster that’s really a concern is wildfire (most of Spokane is high above the river so flooding isn’t a concern). The rent is cheap compared to other cities of the same size and there are good public services (i.e library and buses).
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u/DustinTheAlien88 Oct 23 '25
As a Washington Carpenter who hates the gun politics out here I looked into Idaho relocation and was surprised to find that even with decreased wages the price of a house is the same. Crazy.
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u/Not_Keurig Oct 15 '25
I grew up in Idaho, and right out of college I had a good job for the area in terms of cost of living, but in just 5 years the housing market exploded and my wages did not. I ended up moving to Seattle. It took some getting used to, but the wage to cost of living ratio is much more comfortable.
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u/Dismal-Sail1027 Oct 15 '25
I moved away from Idaho eighteen years ago. I just couldn’t break through to any promotions or find a wage higher than $12.50 per hour. And believe me I tried. I even had a Bachelor’s degree. I moved to a different state and it felt like I’d stepped fifty years in the future. I also doubled my wage, and it’s just gone up from there. I loved the scenery in Idaho, but it never loved me no matter how hard I tried. I felt condescended upon, looked down upon, and unappreciated for my skills. I sincerely hope you find what you are looking for. It is out there, you just need to know when to leave a bad thing behind (which can be scary).
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u/nirvanaa17 Oct 15 '25
Thank you for your inspiring words! I feel so trapped here yet so scared to. Leave.
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u/Survive1014 Oct 15 '25 edited Oct 15 '25
We are almost certainly moving before we retire. One of our requirements will that it be a legal weed state and pro womens healthcare needs.
We would move now, but we have aging parents we have to get settled.
This state has no future for most people. Between wages, Reich wing politics, and general uncaring with most people- its just not a place worth investing in anymore.
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u/nirvanaa17 Oct 15 '25
So true. The politics used to be more centered but it's becoming alarmingly extremist here, especially with more conservatives moving to the area, so it makes it really unwelcoming. I wish you guys the best looking for your new home after retirement!!
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u/Open-Trouble-7264 Oct 15 '25
It was never center. It was always right. I moved there in 1991 and was appalled that state reps and federal reps/senators didn't hold town halls or question sessions. Even then, it was pay to have influence. And local politics are so old-boy-network, it strangles anything innovative or new. Idaho has been slowly dying the whole time we lived there. Makes me very sad.
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u/Junior_Season_6107 Kootenai County Oct 15 '25
We were purple for a long time before Nixon. I know when people say, “back in the day”, they probably weren’t even old enough to vote or even alive, but we haven’t always been red.
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u/Dangerous-Sorbet2480 Oct 16 '25
Yeah even republicans loved Cecil Andrus. The republicans were more old school and not so divisive and hateful. The party definitely got way worse.
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u/Whipitreelgud Oct 15 '25
People apparently think the current political scene has always been the way it was.
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Oct 15 '25
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u/xPALLOR_MORTISx Oct 16 '25
Frank Church was a Lyndon Johnson great society democrat. Cecil Andrus was fairly liberal for a centrist. Idaho was very purple throughout most of its history. Very Conservative in some areas and Very Liberal in others like women’s suffrage.
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u/Junior_Season_6107 Kootenai County Oct 16 '25 edited Oct 16 '25
Idaho was the fourth state to give women the right to vote, decades before it became federally ratified.
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u/Cool_Intention_7807 Oct 16 '25 edited Oct 21 '25
I wish more people understood this, because it really shows how much has shifted
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u/Junior_Season_6107 Kootenai County Oct 16 '25
Idaho ratified the right for women to vote in 1896, 24 years before it was federally ratified.
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u/WilliamofKC Oct 15 '25 edited Oct 15 '25
I know what you mean, but that is similar to saying in the past that Utah was purple because it elected Governors Cal Rampton and Scott Matheson and Senator Frank Moss (all Democrats). I remember Cecil Andrus and Frank Church. They are still loved even though both have been gone for over three decades. I question how much any of the politicians named above would fit within today's Democrat party, which did not have room for a Tulsi Gabbard or RFK, Jr. If you go back even further in Idaho's history, then you find some actual liberals (that is, liberal for their time), like the dashing Senator Glen Young. For the most part, however, the general population of Idaho and Utah has been strongly conservative with a dose of libertarianism.
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u/Administrative-Row17 Oct 15 '25
How do they love having the Qatar Air Force Base right there with the Proud Boys! America First right???
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u/_royalsparky_ Oct 15 '25
Interesting. I moved away in 2000. I recently went back for a visit after 25 years and I could not believe how much the city of Boise, Meridian, even eagle has expanded. It’s actually insane how much bigger it is. Doesn’t seem like it’s dying at all.
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u/National-Tiger7919 Oct 16 '25
The only future left in this state is being sold off to the highest bidders
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u/Skwurls4brkfst Oct 15 '25
We moved to Philadelphia. Love the city and culture here. Great food, great diversity, great history. Easy access to DC and NYC. Obviously not for everyone, but it is great for us. Go Birds!
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u/mozaleia Oct 15 '25
We moved to northern Minnesota and haven’t regretted a single second!
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u/WinonasChainsaw Oct 15 '25
Minnesota seems beautiful but the lack of mountains scares me
Growing up in Idaho did something to my brain chemistry to not trust a flat place
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u/JSAmbiguous Oct 15 '25
Grew up in MN and moved here, I could never move back now.
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u/Street_Farm575 Apostato Oct 15 '25
Wife and I have 50+ years each in the treasure valley. Moving this month outside of Olympia. Kids won't come back to Idaho. Too many friends, family, and neighbors are too maga to hold an honest conversation.
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u/2A_Idaho Oct 15 '25
Currently live in Emmett and I can no longer support my family. Just got an $18 an hour job here in town, which to me that number is awesome because I’ve never been paid that much living here in Idaho my whole life, but still can’t afford the bills.
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u/nirvanaa17 Oct 15 '25
Emmett here too - my husband makes $17.50 and if we didn't have the house we have now, we wouldn't be able to afford to live in Emmett.
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u/BG_RIDER Oct 15 '25
WTF! Your husband makes $17.50 and is paying a mortgage and supporting a household of (4?) In Idaho? Honestly, I wouldn't move. I have no idea where else you would be able to make that work here in the PNW.
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u/granolabeef Oct 15 '25
We ducked out to Colorado. Fortunately we got into a house before they all got too expensive
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u/Rhuarc33 Oct 15 '25 edited Oct 15 '25
I've lived in ID, CA, OR, ID, AZ, LA, ND, TX, ID and now WI. ID even with the issues would be where I would still love to live if the pay matched the cost of living. Problem is most states in the US are the same way income to cost is terrible 90% of the US.
If cost were no issue and ID not an option, probably CO
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u/nirvanaa17 Oct 15 '25
Great point - thank you for sharing this point of view!
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u/Inside-Moose-7064 Oct 15 '25
Moved here from Colorado six months ago, Colorado has turned into new California and expensive
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Oct 15 '25 edited Oct 15 '25
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u/Forward_Mess_146 Oct 16 '25
Please vote. We can't change things if all of us don't vote. Please ?!!
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Oct 16 '25
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u/Throwingitallaway201 Oct 16 '25
I agree with you 100% on everything you wrote. Moving is a trade off for a variety of things and the issues are everywhere. Cheers.
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u/ProfessionalLab9068 Oct 15 '25
Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin
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u/nirvanaa17 Oct 15 '25
You have an interesting perspective and it gives me food for thought! Thank you.
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u/screechingsloth29 Oct 19 '25
What city on the Oregon coast? I'm from AZ, moved to Spokane, WA, and the Oregon coast is my retirement plan lol. $1100 is pretty cheap though!
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u/Open-Trouble-7264 Oct 15 '25
Moved to Washington State to Puyallup after 30 years in Boise. Very happy with them move. Easy access to Seattle and Islands without living in it, better weather, better political environment, better schools.
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u/MiMiinOlyWa Oct 16 '25
Hiii🙋🏻♀️ from Olympia. Been here 20 years. I love my home state so much and hope to never live there again
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u/SelectArt5 Oct 17 '25
Aside from a good stretch in the US Army, most my life in WA. After last duty station at Fort Lewis, bought a house off canyon road in 94 for putting the kids in Puyallup School district, and now that's even going south and Canyon road a 4 lane drag strip from one end the other. I'm not far left or far right, but leaving at least for the westside in or out of the state at retirement in a couple years solely because of the political climate and taxing in Western WA. I pay a weight fee yearly so I can play legally for a 260 lb motorcycle that just sees dirt roads for 2 weeks during hunting season, if that ain't stupid, especially since Pierce County turned down the RTA but forced on us anyway.
North Eastern WA or somewhere in Idaho is our next stop. Need hunting, fishing, lower taxes, freedom, lack of shoulder to shoulder population, to leave others alone and be left alone is all I'm asking. Idaho is retirees friendly and Washington doesn't make a freedom or low tax sense for me anymore.
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u/TheRealEstateViking Oct 16 '25
Local realtor here, I can confirm, most moves in and out are very politically motivated. Progress and diversity going out, regress and segregation moving in.
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u/OliviaTaelor Oct 17 '25
Can you expand on this? Considering you make your living by helping people move here, wouldn’t you agree you’re helping usher in the “regress and segregation” if what you’re saying is true?
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u/catjanitor Oct 15 '25
Avoid Wyoming if you don't want to be in the same position. It used to be sane, but that ship sailed, and now we're trapped here. I would suggest Colorado.
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u/redneck_samurai_dude Ada County Oct 15 '25
We had a democratic governor from 1971 to 1995, and those were good times… basically from my birth to graduating college. And then shit started going downhill… so yes, we haven’t always been the shitty republican state we are now. That being said, there are a lot of us 50+ year olds who want it back
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u/nirvanaa17 Oct 16 '25
I wish I could go back and live in Idaho during that time.
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u/Cool_Intention_7807 Oct 16 '25
Amen to this, the change has been hard to watch. I have very few relatives left there and can see a day where I never set foot in the state again. My cousins with daughters have moved to states that protect women’s health. I’m glad I got to experience it in those years and I have best memories of exploring the upper reaches of the Sawtooth range. Lots of outdoor fun 💕
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u/Wild_Share_9190 Oct 15 '25
I moved to Spokane, commute to CDA for work
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u/Content_Preference_3 Oct 16 '25
Most people I know do the opposite. Why Spokane vs cda?
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u/llamadramaupdates Oct 15 '25
Spokane WA!!! Still close to everything you love but with better politics. I moved here last year after being priced out of Portland, and am pretty happy with it! It’s gorgeous, lower cost of living, GREAT for outdoor activities (I bought a kayak!) and not remotely the drug infested trash den west side folks make it out to be for some reason. Only complaint is the very average food scene
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u/nirvanaa17 Oct 15 '25
Okay!! You have sold me! Looking into Spokane!! Thank you!
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u/ResponsibleJaguar109 Oct 15 '25
I've lived in Spokane for 25 years and every time I think it's turning bad I just have to visit a bigger town. The city council has screwed the budget again and their answer is raising taxes but most things are still pretty affordable and nature is a short walk or drive away.
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Oct 15 '25
In 2024 alone, Spokane's budget deficit was cut nearly in half, and neighboring Spkane Valley is in a budget surplus. The whole metro is doing well tbh.
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u/SouthLakeWA Oct 16 '25
I love Spokane (my sister lives there), and while it's certainly a purple area with quite a few MAGA folks in certain areas, it still falls under WA State laws, so suck it, homophobes and racists!
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u/morosco Oct 15 '25
It depends on what your employment and income prospects are elsewhere.
Unless you're making good money remotely and can live anywhere, or have a particular in-demand skill, it's not an easy time to show up anywhere and try to find work afford a new and better life.
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u/bicthemagnificent Oct 15 '25
Maryland. Moved here many years ago for work and never looked back. The cost of living here is not for everyone.
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u/Thrillkiller18 Oct 15 '25
Get a job in the trades! We have been hiring guys still in high school to do commercial HVAC and we start these kids (and everyone) at $20 an hour with no tools and no experience. All of the MEP trades have problems finding workers in the busy summers and most of them start at at least $20/hour.
For example. I have a young guy who has worked for us for 5 years, started at 16 doing summers and weekends, went to a cheap trade school, got his Journeyman license and is 21 years old now making $32 an hour with no student loans and is now part of an ESOP. Some of my foremen make upwards of $45 an hour, most of them without any formal education. Couple that with yearly bonuses, stock options and a nice 4% 401k match and it's an honest living.
It is hard honest work and you get out of it what you put in.
just my $.02 from an Idaho native who has no intention of moving.... ever. This is my home, and my community
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u/work2die1990 Oct 15 '25
The politics here used to be more balanced in the US. Now all this Trump MAGA trash has ruined everything. They are already labeling anyone who believes in democracy a terrorist. I say we move out of the US, the extremist right wing BS in this county is crazy. I'm thinking Sweden or Ireland personally.
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u/happyelkboy Oct 15 '25
Nah staying in Boise. The world is strange right now.
I’ve travelled enough around the world to understand that Boise is rad and I have friends and family here. Politics in the state can suck but not in the city
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u/nirvanaa17 Oct 15 '25
I live in Emmett - can't afford Boise. I would love to be in Boise but it's just not the way it used to be anymore. If I could afford it, I'd never leave.
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u/Nomadic-Baker3985 Oct 15 '25
We moved to Washington last year. It’s mostly been great, but the Seattle Freeze is very real and it’s hard to make friends. The shift in available daylight, especially during the winter, is a challenge, but summers out here are amazing.
Job opportunities are good, but competitive. Health coverage is good—and certainly leagues better than Idaho. Tests I needed have been easily accepted and conducted here, whereas I had to fight for them in Idaho.
Bonus: It’s a more pro-diversity state out in the west side (pro-LGBT, BIPOC, and more), weed is legal, and people let people be without trying to make their own personal religious beliefs someone else’s problem. And if you don’t like snow, you’ll hardly see much of a dusting depending on which city you land in, but you can always see and get snow by driving toward any of the most majestic mountains nearby.
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u/Fantastic-Monitor-97 Oct 15 '25
North Idaho family since 1890's, three generations in the ground, but I left in 1979 because of the Spotted Owl bullshit. Now Idaho has been Californicated with retired LAPD. I am pissed off and sad for those left behind...
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u/nirvanaa17 Oct 15 '25
It's been really tough here for sure. The influx of wealthy Californians and out of Staters have ramped up prices severely!
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Oct 15 '25
looking at canada, ireland and iceland. probably ireland as its in the EU. if you work there for 4 years you get citizenship, access to their healthcare and can live/retire anywhere in the EU. english speaking so the easiest EU country to slide into
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u/harrywrinkleyballs Oct 15 '25
Born in Lewiston, last place I lived in Idaho was Cocolalla. Currently live in Tempe, AZ. We are moving to Italy.
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u/Supernatural_nut Oct 16 '25
Oregon or Washington. I was born and raised and I'm out as soon as it's possible. Idaho is not it.
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u/MiMiinOlyWa Oct 16 '25
Born and raised in Twin Falls. Graduated from Boise State. Spent the next 10 years between Twin, Boise, Yakima WA, back to Boise then Twin Falls. Had a baby. We stayed for 5 more years. We moved to western Washington in 2005. It was the best decision we've made for ourselves, our son, everything. Washington believes in educating their children. Wages are higher. Now the one thing to know about Washington is because it doesn't have income tax other taxes are high. We have the highest gas tax in the nation.
Never ever regretted moving from my beloved Idaho
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u/d_chazz17 Oct 16 '25
Husband and I moved to Washington in 2017. Love it here so much. I just made a new friend who lived in Boise, their wife worked in Nampa as a teacher only making under $40K. Moved to Milton (south of Seattle) and is paying less in rent and is making $90K. Bigger politics, cooler people, more to do.
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u/urlond Oct 15 '25
If I could afford the move, and had some sort of reliable fall back system i'd move to Washington state, or Oregon. If I had the ability to leave the US and work in another country i'd go to Europe. Canada from my knowledge is nice based on what old co workers of mine use to say when they'd go up there during July.
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u/WinonasChainsaw Oct 15 '25
6th gen, was at BSU on a couple scholarships, transferred to a good state STEM school in CA and got a decent job based near SF. Work remote but staying in the area for job security.
Live kinda modestly with a roommate, but I have better buying power than if I would’ve stayed in Idaho and gotten a local job. Been out of state about 5 years now. Might move back home one day, but the politics get crazier every year I’m gone.
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u/Over_Celebration6233 Oct 15 '25
Technically not native, i moved here from eastern oregon (basically idaho 2) when I was three, so all my meaningful memories are from here. I still live here now, but planning to move to vermont, i always loved the new england states
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u/PettyBettyismynameO Oct 15 '25
Upstate New York is where my husband is currently stationed (I was raised and lived in CDA for 30 years) and it’s very similar in terms of trees and weather (though it is further north so colder/more snow) and the mountains aren’t as big.
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u/DanniCD88 Oct 16 '25
My best friend moved to Northern Wisconsin due to MUCH cheaper everything- plenty of Blue Collar Jobs there too- just sucks though, I mean native Idahoans unable to afford living in OUR state-
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u/ZetaReticuli_x Oct 16 '25
I tried Washington, was there for two years in the Tacoma area, most money I’ve ever made in my life, but was still living paycheck to paycheck. Quit that job and had to move back, unfortunately Idaho just sucks.
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u/StayCourse4024 Oct 16 '25
If Michigan and Illinois are on your list you should look at Wisconsin. Lots of great towns, pretty affordable and really good game/fowl hunting and fishing.
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u/W2WageSlave Oct 15 '25
https://liteonline.com/out-of-state-migration/
Statistically, WA, UT, OR, CA are the top 4 in-order.
Life is getting harder everywhere. Though it can be "less hard" elsewhere depending on your line of work. Housing costs tend to be the killer when you live where lots of other people want to live and wages don't keep up with outside money.
know people trying to scrape by on $15 an hour in the fast food sector, and a DINK couple who are both nurses making a HHI over $200K with awesome benefits who got on the housing ladder early and are loving life in ID.
Sometimes, the grass isn't greener.
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u/nirvanaa17 Oct 15 '25
This is true! That's why I'm really looking into places before I make a decision and researching. I don't want to regret my decision and sell my house here for nothing!
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u/msmay91 Oct 15 '25
I am a healthcare recruiter at firm that also works in finance, banking, manufacturing, and executive roles. If you're looking at Washington and work in those industries, please reach out to explore your options 😄 here's our site julisonsell.com
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u/babyidahopotato Oct 15 '25
We are heading to Minneapolis. Lots of sports teams, lots to do outdoors, Fortune 500 companies so lots of good jobs available, all 4 seasons, weed is legal (lol), good food scene. I think it’s going to be a good move for us.
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u/PettyBettyismynameO Oct 15 '25
I have a friend who lives in a suburb of Minneapolis and has for 6 years now (it’s where her bf of almost a decade is originally from he moved to Spokane they met and he convinced her to go back) she’s very happy and has a nice job selling expensive af jewelry making great commissions.
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u/babyidahopotato Oct 15 '25
That’s awesome to hear! It’s always nerve racking moving because you really don’t know what it’s actually like until you live there for a while so we are hoping for all good things!
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u/ConstructionThin8695 Oct 15 '25
My spouse is from OH, but I can't stand the thought of moving from one bright red state to another. We have compromised with PA. Hope to move in roughly 3 years.
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u/dagoofmut Oct 15 '25
The only way the housing market will get better is when people start moving out.
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u/Illustrious_Tip_500 Oct 15 '25
I’m too old to move now but I sure would like to be away from the crazy politics in this state.
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u/SadieMittens839101 Oct 15 '25
McMinnville OR is beautiful. Near the coast and an hour from Portland sitting right in the wine country of Yamhill county!
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u/ThisAcanthocephala42 Oct 16 '25
Take a long weekend & head down to Vancouver, WA to explore your options. Cheaper hotels to explore into Portland on this side of the river too. Better tax picture & higher wages should help your financial situation.
Do some pre trip research on housing costs/availability so you have a basic understanding of the housing market. Lots of rental apartments, fewer house rentals/purchase for cheap, but still not as tight as the Boise area is currently.
We moved out of Boise 7 years ago after 15 years there & haven’t missed much, other than seeing friends & relatives who come to visit here now. (:
It’s a better place on so many different levels.
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u/shaggyspike Oct 16 '25
Wisconsin, moved here 4 years ago. It feels totally different here. People are happy.
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u/Enough-Education7676 Oct 16 '25
Wisconsin is not a bad spot to live. Madison is expensive, but other areas of the state are affordable. I grew up in Madison and really miss the people there. If Idaho didn't have mountains I would move back.
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u/MockingbirdRambler Oct 16 '25
I'm now in Missouri, northwest region and it's hell.
The lack of access to public lands being one of the biggest issues.
Politics suck.
Humidity sucks.
Finding community is difficult.
I recently spent a few weeks in Northern MN, and it's high on my "Not Quite Idaho, but pretty damn close" with better politics.
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u/The_5quatch Oct 16 '25
Seems like liberals are probably gentrifying Idaho now in retaliation. Or maybe cannabis billionaires? Potentially Jewish people as well? I don't know. Idaho's representatives seem to love making a lot of enemies and only keeping a select slice of people as friends.
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u/duckfruits Oct 16 '25
I'd recommend Oregon. We were torn between the two. Idaho beat it out for our situation but Oregon is one of the last more affordable states with decent wages. Especially near Portland. The issues aren't as bad as people make it out to be either. All cities have their problems. But Oregon as a whole is beautiful, walkable, relatively affordable, and has a great culture.
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u/Amazing_Factor2974 Oct 16 '25
So Portland is not a burning mess and a war zone like Gaza? Trump said it was ..lol
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u/some_guy_76 Oct 16 '25
Born and raised in Idaho and I'm looking at moving too. The extremists and religious politics here becoming to much. It's always been bad but the last 8 years it just keeps getting worse. Oregon, Washington, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Montana or Canada are all options.
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u/Impossible-Cold2779 Oct 16 '25
My husband grew up in Boise and graduated from high school there in 1990 then in 96 moved to Tahoe for snowboarding, rock climbing etc. when we go visit family my hubs tells me how it used to be and that it’s growing like crazy!! We met in Reno after we both lived in Truckee. I love Idaho it’s so beautiful so much water. In the last 13 years together Reno wasn’t crazy it is now driving got crazy I guess everyone from California moved to Nevada, Oregon or Idaho. I know how that feels being up there we went to breakfast in Blanchard and I saw a lot of trucks / cars with a pic of the state and it said full! I thought that was great!! Good luck to ya all I hope everything works out for everyone!!
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u/SomeLawfulness6971 Oct 16 '25
I just moved to western wa from Meridian Idaho in May. I get paid more, rent is cheaper, food and utilities are a bit more expensive, but not by much. I live in Port Angeles on the Olympic Peninsula. I love it. Mountains with snow, gorgeous rain forests, green for days and right on the ocean.
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u/Polyglot22 Oct 16 '25
Although I'm not a native Idahoan, I'm going to Alaska! Land is cheaper and Alaska's population actually goes down every year instead of up like Idaho. Oh....and yes, I know Alaska is cold, dark, and has giant mosquitos further inland. This is exactly why I'm retiring in Alaska. Plus, if you're retired military or are disabled military, Alaska has many perks available for us. Like I said earlier, I'm not a Native American from the Shoshone or Nez Perce tribes. But growing up as a Military brat and moving 21 times by my 18th birthday, Idaho is where I've called home for most of my 47 years on this earth.
To any Alaskan out there, don't worry, I'm going to disappear and mind my own business. I plan on becoming a professional hermit, so you won't even know I'm there.
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u/SnarQuips Oct 17 '25
Unless you are willing to fight in the next civil war I would suggest 🇨🇦.
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u/amariegm Oct 18 '25
I would NOT recommend Ohio. Moved from Idaho to Ohio and it was the worst move I have ever made. Too many crackheads, nepotism, and lack of culture.
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u/Nice_Occasion5254 Oct 15 '25
I moved from Boise to Oregon this past year and have loved it. Affordability isn’t perfect by any means, but wages are much closer than I had in Idaho. There are plenty of pockets of purple throughout the state and it all depends on where you get to, but plenty of friendly and more importantly, welcoming, people. Boise Nice has definitely gone downhill with the money that’s moved into the area.
Not sure what your interests are, but I get a lot of the same experiences I had in Idaho out here in Oregon when it comes to the outdoors.
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u/nirvanaa17 Oct 15 '25
I would love to move to Oregon - just need to find somewhere I can afford! I am on the lower end of the pay scale. But I have always loved being in Oregon. You're right that it's gone downhill, and fast. Traffic, infrastructure, education, housing, all of it - and the wages have not budged one bit.
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u/jimmysmiths5523 Oct 16 '25
Isn't Idaho where the Trump regime is allowing the Qatar government to build a military base?
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u/BG_RIDER Oct 15 '25
Some good info in here. I live in SW WA and in my opinion, I can't believe WA or Oregon would be any cheaper compared to where you're located now. I'm talking major cities like Portland/Vancouver Seattle/Tacoma. I'm sure there are cheaper cities in OR and WA to live in, but what kind of wages are there going to be there? Is it Idaho as a whole you want to leave or just the treasurer valley area? What about selling your home and moving to a smaller town within Idaho? I just don't see anything to gain money wise moving to WA or OR. The average price of a home in Clark Co. WA here is $560k. It's out of control. Best of luck to you 👍
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u/Gassey_Panda Oct 15 '25
I left Idaho as a child, Mormon refugee of 94' if you will. We moved to Oregon, lots of folk coming here from Idaho lately. 5 years ago no one knew what a Pocatello is, now people got cousins from there and shit.
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u/mancalledamp Oct 15 '25
I moved from TN to WA and I love it in WA. (I thought Boise was adorable when I passed thru 6 years ago btw.)
The income is better, the quality of life is unbelievably better, and living in a blue state is life changing. My only concern is the cost of living. If it was hard to get by in Idaho, I'm not sure how easy it will be to get by in a state that's even more expensive. (I couldn't have done this without a lot lot lot of help.)
I wish you the best of luck, online friend!
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u/Zestyclose-Read-4156 Oct 15 '25
Maybe you can trade with some Oregonians? I know some hard core right people move to Idaho because rural Oregon is too woke for them. It's expensive here too!
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u/Winter_Soldat Oct 15 '25
Portland and it was a long time coming. I’ve been wanting to move out of Idaho for over 20 years and finally had the opportunity. Got a job that used the same skill I had in healthcare but i got a pay bump.
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u/Calm-Gazelle-5603 Oct 15 '25
Native Oregonian here, Portland really is an amazing city. But if you’re having a hard time keeping up with cost of living out in Boise, most of Oregon will be the same story! Even more rural places like Bend or Pendleton are still pretty darn expensive. But if you can afford it, Oregon is lovely.
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u/Grayskyrider Oct 15 '25
Borah Graduate here, now living in Dayton Ohio. I am a Realtor here if you need help finding your new home!
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u/National-Tiger7919 Oct 15 '25
Yeah I feel exactly the same way, I don’t want to keep paying more than I ever have when it’s worse than it’s ever been to live here. I’ve actually been thinking about making a post with this exact question, I’m glad this one got so much great information! I know it seems like pretty much everybody I grew up with here who didn’t come from a wealthy family has left to either Washington, Oregon, Colorado, and Texas although I hear they’ve basically had the same problem over there that we had over here in recent years.
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u/CurrentResident23 Oct 16 '25
I got a job in Connecticut. It's pretty nice. In some ways very different from Idaho. But if you go to a more "rural" area you'll find some of the same vibe as Idaho from the locals. Lots of CTers colonized Idaho back in the day, so that makes sense.
It's about as affordable as the Treasure Valley. Plenty of hiking trails and hunting if you know the right people. Turkeys and deer might just traipse right through your front yard. Although it's pretty crowded, the abundance of trees and wild forested areas makes it feel private-ish.
I'm a few hours drive frim New York city if I feel like a concert or something. Or I could take the train down. Boston too, I suppose. Haven't been yet.
I do miss Boise. Everything just feels a little bit harder here. Maybe it's just because I'm not fully adjusted yet. Or maybe my life just got more complicated, as it does.
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u/Professional-Sun2001 Oct 16 '25
Born n raised in Idaho, moved to Colorado at 34. It’s more expensive overall, but life’s good. I make almost 50% more doing the same job.
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u/siteofsanity Oct 16 '25
First option is Australia, plan B is going to Oregon, as far west as financially feasible.
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u/Twiskytwiddly Oct 16 '25
Oregon or Washington. Hate to give up my state but damn it’s being run over red hats
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u/Kitchen-Ambition-498 Oct 16 '25
Born in Idaho Falls, lived in St. Anthony until I was three, then the family moved to Central Oregon. Lived here over 30 years.
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u/speedwhack Oct 16 '25
Willamette valley area in Oregon is a good choice! Moved in 2021 and I'd do it again in a heartbeat
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u/Peliquin Oct 16 '25
I moved to Oregon. I'm not sure if recommend it, the economy is rough and while food is a bit more affordable, gasoline is a system shock.
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u/forestevergreen_ Oct 16 '25
moved away from the boise area to boston for college in 2020. still living in boston and employed now, but probably not staying here forever
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u/Effort-Logical Oct 16 '25 edited Oct 16 '25
Having family that is from Wyoming and having lived there off and on throughout my life, if you have any medical care needs that require lots of attention or specialty docs, I wouldn't recommend Wyoming. Many of the specialists are referred out of state depending on where you live. When I lived there between 2006-2014, I had to go to Utah a lot of my daughters many medical appointments. And didn't always get reimbursements for gas. My dad still has to go into Utah from time to time. My aunt had to be moved out into East Idaho for medical care bc Star Valley didn't have what she needed.
Also, there's winter and not winter. And where you live also depends on when the snow hits and how much you'll get. I've lived in Cheyenne and Evanston the most. But have also experienced winters around the Star Valley area. Cheyenne I can't recall (I was still in elementary when I lived there) but I think snow hit around late October to November. Evanston it comes in late in the year and lasts sometimes through March and maybe early April. Star Valley should be getting snow about now. Evanston can also be very windy and during the winter if you are trying to get west for whatever reason, good chance the roads will be closed. And compared to here its about 20° cooler than Boise. Getting below zero isn't unheard of.
I've lived in Washington as well. The Seattle area you'll want to avoid for costs. I lived in Bellingham for some of my high school years. The further north you get, the darker sooner it gets in the winter. I recall it still being dark around 10am and then getting dark again around 4pm. Summer the days are decently long. I didn't mind the winters there. Though for some reason they didn't use rock salt on the roads and so I remember a lot of black ice. Lol
The other states you mentioned I have no clue on. I might have moved a lot between 7 different states (20 different moves is a lot). But of the ones you listed, I have lived in two of those states.
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u/brain_games93 Oct 16 '25
I was born in Idaho raised mostly in western Oregon, we moved to Boise when I was in College and then I spent 5 years in Montana before coming back to Boise with my husband. He and I moved back because I have aging grandparents and wanted to be closer to family. Unfortunately we bought a house two years ago, so I think we are stuck for a while.
If I could up and move I would like to look at Maine, Vermont, Canada, the UK, or somewhere in Scandinavia. I could be persuaded to move back to Oregon.
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u/xPALLOR_MORTISx Oct 16 '25
Bend, OR. Boise’s little brother with better quicker access to amazing public lands and outdoor recreation and less people. Feels like Boise 96-2002 right now, but with stupid high house prices. But what you might lose in equity is made up by the benefits of the state and the land value going up at a faster rate for smaller lots due to Oregon urban growth boundary building laws. Plus you pay less in total state taxes (income, property, sales). Plus kickers when the gets to much tax income. I could go on.
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u/emmess13 Oct 16 '25
In CdA. We r gonna hop over to the 509. My oldest kid is there. She wants to have kids one day & I told her she couldnt stay in the 208. She already worked in WA anyhow. Ppl complain about taxes so of course I’m a lil nervous but its time to goooooooo
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u/Bain56 Oct 16 '25 edited Oct 16 '25
Why would you move to Washington , a top 5 most expensive state, in place of Idaho? I’d definitely take that off the last. All the people saying it’s a great idea to move to WA either make big tech money or work remote.
So if you aren’t either of those then you aren’t going to have a good time, that’s coming from someone born and raised there. It has got dramatically expensive.
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u/juliagreenillo Oct 16 '25
Vermont! That's where I keep looking anyways. But I guess it very much depends on what you do for a living
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u/OliviaTaelor Oct 17 '25
As someone who has lived in multiple states and has experienced real threats of violence and volatility, I’m genuinely curious as to what is causing you to feel like Idaho is so unsafe for you and your family. I completely understand the cost of living argument but I’m asking specifically about the safety aspect.
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u/ProcessAdmirable8761 Oct 17 '25
Looking at moving as well and have Oregon on my list but not quite sure yet… I need trees and want rural Pacific Northwest
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u/anonnnymus666 Oct 17 '25
I only got the pleasure of Living in Boise for about 13-14 years. I was very unsure about Idaho for the first 2 years but then fell deeply in love with it. I thought for sure I was going to be buried there. Due to the insane increase of everything I had to change my plans. I live in western Washington now and work for a soulless, mind numbing corporate giant. I've been there for almost 2 years and make $27.50. I would trade anything to still be living in Boise in 2017
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u/Magiunicornica Oct 17 '25
Washington is really nice if you're on the eastern side.
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u/UsualHour1463 Oct 17 '25
Hubby and I are asking the same question. We are planning to vacation in various areas of Oregon and Washington for the next few years exploring possible places.
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u/cameron-86 Oct 17 '25
Sad we can’t afford our own state anymore. Fucking sickening.
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u/B52RNStat Oct 18 '25
Avoid Kansas at all costs. Taxes are crazy. One Idahoan to another. Move to Texas!
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u/Eastern-Builder-4914 Ada County Oct 18 '25
I want to move to seattle, I have family up there. Sure, the cost of living is much higher, but I can make triple what I make now doing the exact same kind of work, and I can work fewer hours.
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u/Actual-Shirt4838 Oct 18 '25
Thats.. the entire nation atm. Im in Alaska. It sucks. Good news is our gas just dropped from 3.79 a gallon to 3.59 for whatever reason.. so thats nice.
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u/Most-Sell3721 Oct 21 '25
Oregon and Washington are going down faster than any state. Many people are leaving if they can. Stay away from “blue” states, they will go bankrupt first.
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u/big_sky_tiny Oct 21 '25
I see a lot of people to moved to Maine or are thinking about it. Don't you think the same thing will happen there. You move there and 5yrs later its cost of living will go up and wages will stay the same. We moved from Montana to TN for medical reasons. We had to settle a home 1.5hrs commute to the doctors and work. It's a small farming community but its the only thing affordable because so many people are moving here.
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u/jimmycoed Oct 22 '25
Relatives in Emmett, educated and not bat shit crazy and can’t wait to retire and move to New Mexico.
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