The Marguerite with cedar gable and covered porch in fresh snow, South Fork Landing, Garden Valley, Idaho

RELOCATION · COLORADO TO IDAHO

Moving to Boise from Colorado

Mountain access and mountain modern design, with less snow on the driveway.

Moving to Boise from Colorado keeps the mountains and the outdoor life at a lower home price: Idaho's median home value is $418,600 against $539,400 in Colorado. Boise gets about 20 inches of snow a year, versus about 49 in Denver. Idaho's flat income tax is 5.3%, above Colorado's 4.4%. We build mountain modern custom homes across the Treasure Valley.

Median home value, Idaho: $418,600
Median home value, Colorado: $539,400
Idaho income tax: 5.3% flat
Colorado income tax: 4.4% (tax year 2025)

THE NUMBERS

Colorado vs Idaho: home values and taxes

About 500 people a month in Colorado search for a move to the Treasure Valley. Housing is the main draw: the Census median value of an owner-occupied home is $539,400 in Colorado and $418,600 in Idaho (2020 to 2024). Boise sits at $484,800 and Eagle at $772,900, so the savings depend on where you land.

Income tax runs slightly the other way. Colorado's rate is 4.4% for tax year 2025; Idaho's flat rate is 5.3%. Idaho's homeowner's exemption removes 50% of your primary home's value, up to $125,000, from property tax. For building costs, see our 2026 cost guide.

Colorado and Idaho compared (sources below, as of 2026)
	Colorado	Idaho
Median owner-occupied home value (ACS 2020-2024)	$539,400	$418,600 (Boise $484,800)
State income tax	4.4% (tax year 2025)	5.3% flat
Normal seasonal snowfall	49.0 in (Denver, 1991-2020)	About 20 in (Boise airport)

02 / CLIMATE

Less snow to shovel,
the same big skies.

The National Weather Service lists Denver's 1991 to 2020 seasonal snowfall normal at 49.0 inches. Boise averages around 20 inches at the airport, with just over 11 inches of total precipitation a year. Both are dry, sunny, high elevation climates, so Colorado families usually settle in fast.

Skiing is still close: Bogus Basin sits on the mountain above Boise, and the Payette River country around Garden Valley, where we keep an office and have built mountain homes, is an easy weekend drive.

The Terrace Lakes Cabin by Bachman Custom Homes

03 / DESIGN

Mountain modern,
built for the valley.

If you love the mountain modern look, you are in home territory with us. Our YouTube channel says it plainly: mountain meets modern. Our Mountain Modern plan, cedar ceilings, stone fireplaces and big covered patios show up across our homes, and Bob described The Bowers as a Lake Tahoe inspired, beachy mountain modern design.

For foothill views, look at Eagle; for space and a shorter drive to the city, compare Boise, Meridian and Eagle on our Boise vs Meridian vs Eagle vs Star page.

04 / THE MOVE

Building from
Colorado.

A typical build takes 6 to 8 months once construction starts. Planning runs by phone and email; you visit for interior design appointments (about 2 to 3 days) and optional walkthroughs after framing. The full sequence is on building in Idaho from out of state, and the relocation guide collects the planning checklists.

The Valnova Bowers by Bachman Custom Homes

05 / FROM A CLIENT

Building from
another state.

Here is how one out-of-state client described working with us.

“We were building from out of state and I was worried about not being here, but when you trust your builder, it makes it so much easier!!”
Nicole M., Google review

A PLACE TO BELONG

Find your corner
of Idaho.

Beautiful homesites. Extraordinary build opportunities.

Explore our communities ↗

QUESTIONS, ANSWERED

Frequently asked
questions.

Is Idaho cheaper than Colorado?

For housing, generally yes. The Census median home value is $418,600 in Idaho and $539,400 in Colorado for 2020 to 2024. Income tax is slightly higher in Idaho: a flat 5.3% versus Colorado's 4.4% for tax year 2025. Your result depends on where you buy and what you earn.

Does Boise get less snow than Denver?

Yes. The National Weather Service lists Denver's 1991 to 2020 seasonal snowfall normal at 49.0 inches, while snowfall at the Boise airport averages around 20 inches a year. Bogus Basin, on the mountain above Boise, gets plenty for skiing.

Is Boise like Denver?

Both are sunny, dry Western cities with mountains in view, but Boise is smaller. The Census Bureau estimated Boise's population at 238,429 in July 2025. Commutes are short; the mean travel time to work in Boise is 18.9 minutes.

Can you build a mountain modern home in Idaho?

Yes. Mountain modern is one of our signature looks, from our Mountain Modern plan to cedar ceilings and stone fireplaces in our Parade homes. We build in the Treasure Valley and in Garden Valley. Call 208-577-8794 or use our contact page to talk through a design.

Moving from another state

Sources

8 references, all public

Moving to Boise from Colorado

Colorado vs Idaho: home values and taxes

Less snow to shovel,the same big skies.

Mountain modern,built for the valley.

Building fromColorado.

Building fromanother state.

Find your cornerof Idaho.

Frequently askedquestions.