Boise vs Sacramento
Two markets on the list for people leaving LA. Here's how they stack up on price, pace and taxes, measured against what a typical LA home sells for.
| Boise, ID | Sacramento, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | $540K | $507K |
| Median single-family | $560K | $515K |
| Median condo | $320K | $365K |
| Median $/sq ft | $320 | $335 |
| Median days on market | 11 | 14 |
| Avg sale-to-list | 100.4% | 101.1% |
| Sq ft for $1M (at median $/sq ft) | 3,130 | 2,990 |
| Californians who moved to the state (2024) | 15,385 | n/a |
Redfin Data Center, May 2026, all residential unless noted. Typical LA County zip for reference: $904K median, $588/sq ft, 44 median days on market. Mover counts: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2024, estimates with margins of error.
The short version
Sacramento is the less expensive of the two at the median, about $507K versus $540K in Boise, roughly 6% less (Redfin, May 2026). Price per square foot points the other way: Boise runs about $320 per square foot against $335 in Sacramento, so the gap in median price says more about home size than about the cost of space. Homes have been selling at a similar pace, about 11 median days on market in Boise and 14 in Sacramento. Sacramento is in California, so its income tax matches LA's. Idaho has a 5.3% flat income tax (tax year 2026). About 15,000 people moved from California to Idaho in 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024).
Taxes
Boise: 5.3% flat rate (tax year 2026). Sacramento: Same as LA (California, progressive, top rate 13.3%). Property tax, insurance and HOA costs vary by address in both places and can matter as much as income tax, so price them for any specific home.
Go deeper
Read the full guides: moving from LA to Boise and moving from LA to Sacramento.
Common questions
Is Boise or Sacramento cheaper?
Sacramento had the lower median sale price, about $507K versus $540K in Boise (Redfin, May 2026), roughly 6% less at the median.
Which has lower state income tax, Boise or Sacramento?
Boise has the lower state income tax. Idaho has a 5.3% flat income tax (tax year 2026). By comparison, California has a progressive income tax with a top marginal rate of 13.3% (tax year 2026). Rates change, so confirm with each state and a CPA.
What does $1 million buy in Boise vs Sacramento?
At the median price per square foot, $1 million works out to roughly 3,130 square feet in Boise and 2,990 in Sacramento, versus about 1,700 at the LA median. A rough illustration, not a listing.
