Moving from Boise or anywhere in Idaho to the Phoenix area changes your taxes, your housing, your schools and your weather, and whether it works out for your household depends on your own numbers. This guide is a planning checklist: where to find the official figures, what to take to your CPA and lender, and how to build a short list of Phoenix-area neighborhoods that fit how you live.
1. Income tax: compare your own return
Idaho's individual income tax rate for tax year 2025 is 5.3% on Idaho taxable income, with a 0% bracket on the first portion of income, according to the Idaho State Tax Commission's Individual Income Tax Basics guide and rate schedule (accessed November 2, 2026). Arizona taxes individual income at a flat 2.5% for tax year 2023 and later (Arizona Department of Revenue, accessed November 2, 2026). Idaho rates have changed in recent years, so use the schedule for the year you file.
What to do: ask your CPA to run your return both ways with your actual income, deductions and retirement income, and to plan the year you change residency. Selling an Idaho home, keeping it as a rental, or receiving deferred compensation can each change the answer.
2. Property tax and the home you buy
In Idaho, property tax depends on your county's assessment and local levies. In Arizona it depends on the county assessor's valuation and the local taxing districts for that parcel. For a Phoenix-area home, look up the parcel on the Maricopa County Assessor site (or the Pinal County Assessor for parcels there) and ask for the current tax bill. New-construction communities can carry special district assessments, so ask for those in writing.
3. Housing: compare current listings and monthly cost
Prices change month to month, so this guide does not quote averages or "what your equity buys" examples. Instead:
- Get a current list of homes that match your must-haves (size, single-story or two-story, pool, lot, HOA or not) in two or three areas.
- Compare total monthly ownership cost: mortgage, property tax, homeowners insurance, HOA dues and any special district assessment.
- If you're selling in Idaho, get a net-proceeds estimate there first so your Arizona budget rests on real numbers.
- Loan amounts above the 2026 conforming limit of $832,750 in Maricopa and Pinal counties need jumbo financing (FHFA); ask your lender which applies to your price range.
4. Schools: verify assignment by address
As in Idaho, public school assignment in the Phoenix area depends on the address, and there are many separate districts plus charter and open-enrollment options. Before you write an offer, confirm the assigned school with the district's boundary tool or office, and check enrollment and open-enrollment rules if a particular school matters to you. Use the Arizona Department of Education's published data rather than third-party scores when you compare schools.
5. Work, climate and daily life
If you'll keep an Idaho employer, confirm remote-work and payroll-state rules with your employer and CPA. The Phoenix area is a hot desert with a long summer: plan the move date and first summer around it, and check the home's AC age and roof condition during inspection. Use National Weather Service Phoenix climate data for the months you care about.
6. Getting back to Idaho
Flight schedules and fares change, so check current nonstop options between Phoenix Sky Harbor and Boise before you choose a part of town, and map the airport drive from each neighborhood on your shortlist at the times you'd actually travel.
7. Build a neighborhood shortlist
There's no single neighborhood that fits everyone coming from Idaho. Start with how you want to live, then match areas to it:
- Walkable, restaurants and activity: compare Scottsdale and Tempe areas.
- Newer homes and master-planned amenities: compare Gilbert, Queen Creek and parts of Mesa and Chandler; see the East Valley new construction guide.
- Established neighborhoods and larger lots: compare parts of Mesa, Chandler and Phoenix.
- Active-adult (55+) communities: see the East Valley 55+ communities guide.
Tell Ryan your budget, must-haves and timeline and he'll send a shortlist of areas and current homes to compare. For the bigger picture, see the Arizona relocation guide.
Frequently Asked Questions: Idaho to Phoenix
Ryan Moxley is a REALTOR® with My Home Group (ADRE SA643872000), who helps buyers relocating from Idaho compare Phoenix-area neighborhoods. Contact Ryan at (480) 227-9143 or ryan@moxleycollective.com.