These Are The 10 Most Successful Cities In Idaho

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What defines success in today’s world? Is it the financial resources you possess, the satisfaction from a successful presentation, or perhaps the joy of sharing a good joke? Or could it be something more profound—an experience that is unquantifiable, subjective, and unique to each individual?

At Zippia, we prefer metrics that allow us to explore success in a tangible way. Using analytical methodologies, we have identified the 10 most successful cities in Idaho for 2026. Here’s the list:

If you’re skeptical about our objective list, continue reading to understand the methodology behind it.

For more insights on Idaho, check out:

How We Identified the Most Successful Cities in Idaho

In the quest for success, financial prosperity often comes to mind. However, we believe success encompasses more than just wealth. For our analysis, we employed criteria based on the latest available data from the American Community Survey, focusing on various economic indicators.

1. Hailey

Source: Wikipedia

Population: 7,961
Median Income: $65,625
Poverty Level: 6.0%
Unemployment Rate: 3.8%

2. Eagle

Population: 21,102
Median Income: $82,264
Poverty Level: 5.9%
Unemployment Rate: 5.8%

3. Ammon

Population: 14,257
Median Income: $59,497
Poverty Level: 11.2%
Unemployment Rate: 5.6%

4. Star

Population: 6,379
Median Income: $58,906
Poverty Level: 13.3%
Unemployment Rate: 5.1%

5. Preston

Population: 5,172
Median Income: $49,955
Poverty Level: 6.8%
Unemployment Rate: 6.6%

6. Meridian

Population: 81,025
Median Income: $63,225
Poverty Level: 8.3%
Unemployment Rate: 7.3%

7. Chubbuck

Population: 14,117
Median Income: $44,650
Poverty Level: 10.0%
Unemployment Rate: 5.8%

8. Lewiston

Population: 32,178
Median Income: $45,148
Poverty Level: 10.8%
Unemployment Rate: 5.7%

9. Hayden

Population: 13,588
Median Income: $54,481
Poverty Level: 6.3%
Unemployment Rate: 9.3%

10. Kuna

Population: 16,188
Median Income: $56,533
Poverty Level: 10.2%
Unemployment Rate: 9.3%

Measuring Success

If you find yourself questioning whether such metrics can truly encapsulate the success of a city and its residents, you’re not alone. While these figures may seem superficial, they offer valuable insights into the economic landscapes of these communities.

Congratulations to Hailey and the other top-ranking cities. And for those that didn’t make the list, there’s always next year to strive for success.

Detailed List of the Most Successful Cities in Idaho

Rank	City	Median Income	Poverty Rate	Unemployment Rate
1	Hailey	$65,625	6.0%	3.8%
2	Eagle	$82,264	5.9%	5.8%
3	Ammon	$59,497	11.2%	5.6%
4	Star	$58,906	13.3%	5.1%
5	Preston	$49,955	6.8%	6.6%
6	Meridian	$63,225	8.3%	7.3%
7	Chubbuck	$44,650	10.0%	5.8%
8	Lewiston	$45,148	10.8%	5.7%
9	Hayden	$54,481	6.3%	9.3%
10	Kuna	$56,533	10.2%	9.3%
11	Post Falls	$49,736	11.6%	7.8%
12	Idaho Falls	$45,680	14.9%	6.7%
13	Mountain Home	$46,836	14.5%	7.5%
14	Boise City	$49,209	15.7%	7.7%
15	Blackfoot	$39,524	16.5%	5.6%
16	Middleton	$45,549	13.7%	10.6%
17	Twin Falls	$41,880	17.9%	7.4%
18	Burley	$32,202	15.5%	7.2%
19	Rupert	$34,546	14.7%	8.1%
20	Pocatello	$40,792	19.9%	7.7%
21	Sandpoint	$33,606	19.9%	6.7%
22	Coeur d’Alene	$41,336	16.7%	9.9%
23	Rathdrum	$42,390	17.5%	11.8%
24	Caldwell	$41,368	20.3%	11.0%
25	Nampa	$40,083	21.9%	10.4%
26	Jerome	$35,317	23.5%	10.3%
27	Moscow	$33,591	32.6%	9.2%
28	Garden City	$38,212	20.3%	12.5%
29	Payette	$41,736	29.8%	16.7%
30	Weiser	$31,451	18.6%	12.9%
31	Emmett	$29,129	29.2%	22.9%
32	Rexburg	$25,606	53.8%	12.1%

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Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

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