Idaho
Moderate tax burden · COL index 96
Wins 6 categories
South Dakota
Low tax burden · COL index 95
Wins 8 categories
South Dakota has no state income tax. Idaho's top rate is 5.8%. Property taxes are meaningfully different: South Dakota averages 1.08% annually vs Idaho's 0.48%. The median home in Idaho costs $425K vs $310K in South Dakota.
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Housing & Cost of Living
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Healthcare
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Category wins
6
Idaho
8
South Dakota
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What are the pros and cons of living in Idaho?
Is South Dakota the best state to live in?
South Dakota ranked in the 10 best states in America for 2025 by U.S. News. With beautiful landscapes, plenty of opportunity, and a top-notch quality of life, we've long thought South Dakota was one of the best states in America. In fact, U.S. News has ranked South Dakota as the 8th best state in America for 2025!
Which billionaire lives in South Dakota?
Are people still moving to Idaho?
While moving across state lines isn't as common as it may feel on social media, the numbers still tell a compelling story. In 2024, only about 2.1% of Americans moved from one state to another, which equals roughly 7 million people nationwide. A significant portion of those movers chose Idaho.