See how Boise stacks up against other US capital cities on ‘best to live’ list

A new study focused on affordability, economic stability, quality of life, education and other metrics recently ranked all 50 U.S. capitals and Boise was among the top ranked.

The “Best State Capitals to Live In,” a list compiled by online finance site WalletHub, looked at each state’s capital and Boise came in fifth on the list. Head of Idaho’s capital were Madison, Wisconsin, in fourth place; Atlanta, Georgia, in third place; Raleigh, North Carolina, in second; and Austin, Texas, in first.

“A state’s capital city is more than just the seat of its government ― it’s also often the center of its economic activity,” said Chip Lupo, an analyst at WalletHub. “Some state capitals boast incredible job markets, high average salaries, world-class universities and an abundance of attractions. Unfortunately, others have populations that are struggling financially, failing public education systems and poor public health systems. States should aim to make their capital city a shining example of the best they have to offer.”

The study, released on Feb. 16, 2026, ranked all metrics by category, with the four categories being Affordability, Economic Well-Being, Quality of Education and Health, and Quality of Life. Each category was assigned a maximum of 25 points it could be awarded.

Boise was 19th in affordability, third in economic well-being, 12th for quality of education and health, and fourth for quality of life.

At the bottom of the list, Little Rock, Arkansas, was ranked 46th; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, ranked 47th; Trenton, New Jersey, ranked 48th; Augusta, Maine, ranked 49th; and Jackson, Mississippi ranked 50th.

Boise also ranked high on the list for lowest number of premature death rates as the third lowest, coming in after Austin, Texas, in second and Madison, Wisconsin, in first. Boise ranked even higher in lowest crime rates, coming in second behind Concord, New Hampshire.

“As the old saying goes, ‘when you’ve seen one state capital, you’ve seen one state capital,” said Dr. Keith G. Debbage, professor emeritus, Department of Geography, Environment and Sustainability at University of North Carolina – Greensboro. “State capitals range in population from just over 1.6 million in Phoenix, Arizona, to just over 8,000 in Montpelier, Vermont. One notable theme in recent years is that the state capitals with higher qualities of life are frequently those with medium-sized populations that host major university institutions including Boise, Idaho; Lincoln, Nebraska; and Raleigh, North Carolina.