In short
The median value of owner-occupied homes in Boise is $498,500 (Census ACS 2024; owner estimates, not sale prices). The FHFA House Price Index shows Idaho prices up 3.6% and Boise City metro prices up 4.0% between the second quarters of 2025 and 2026. Idaho has no real estate transfer tax. Selling a main home you owned and lived in for 2 of the last 5 years, the first $250,000 of gain ($500,000 for a married couple filing jointly) is excluded from federal income tax (IRS Publication 523).
Calculate for Boise
In short
The median value of owner-occupied homes in the city of Boise is $498,500, according to the Census Bureau’s 2024 American Community Survey. The City of Boise’s Homeownership Opportunity Program offers eligible buyers up to $45,000 toward a purchase inside city limits, and Idaho Housing and Finance Association offers up to 8% of the sales price in down payment help, according to their websites.
How much homes cost in Boise
The Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) asks owners how much they think their home would sell for. The median of those answers is a useful benchmark, but it is not a sale price: it covers every owner-occupied home, including homes bought long ago. Our page on Idaho home prices explains the method in detail.
| Area | Median value, 2024 (ACS) | Margin of error (90%) |
|---|---|---|
| City of Boise | $498,500 | ±$17,793 |
| Ada County | $541,300 | ±$12,945 |
| Boise City metro area | $484,000 | ±$5,958 |
| Idaho | $446,400 | ±$5,301 |
| United States | $360,600 | ±$618 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 1-Year Estimates 2024, table B25077. The 2025 estimates are scheduled for October 29, 2026.
Are Boise prices rising?
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) tracks repeat sales of the same single-family homes. Its purchase-only, seasonally adjusted index for the Boise City metro area, published August 25, 2026, shows:
| Area | 1-year change (Q2 2025 to Q2 2026) | 5-year change (Q2 2021 to Q2 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Boise City, ID metro area | +4.0% | +15.0% |
| Idaho | +3.6% | +24.6% |
| United States | +2.1% | +33.4% |
Source: FHFA House Price Index, quarterly purchase-only files. Changes calculated by Payotte from the published index values.
Prices in the Boise area rose faster than the nation’s over the past year, but five-year growth is the smallest of the three.
Closing costs, property tax and other costs
On top of the price, buyers and sellers pay closing costs: lender fees, the appraisal, escrow and recording fees, and title insurance. Several of these depend on the loan and on the providers you choose. We keep one set of figures for the whole state so that the numbers on every page agree. Please read:
- Closing costs in Idaho
- Transfer tax in Idaho
- Property tax in Idaho
- Home appraisal costs and escrow accounts, which explain how property tax can be paid through your monthly mortgage payment
Help buying in Boise
Two public sources of purchase help apply to a home in Boise. Our guide to first-time buyer programs in Idaho compares them with the details.
| Program | Who runs it | Maximum help | Income rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Down payment assistance | Idaho Housing and Finance Association | Up to 8% of the sales price, as a second mortgage; $500 of your own funds | $170,000 or less for most products |
| Homeownership Opportunity Program | City of Boise | Up to $45,000 for a standard home, deferred mortgage | 50% to 80% of area median income |
Sources: Idaho Housing, down payment assistance page; City of Boise, Homeownership Opportunity Program policy revised February 20, 2025.
For the City’s program, the home must be inside Boise city limits, and applications come only through two partner organizations listed on the City’s page. The City’s 2026 income guidelines, effective June 1, 2026, put the 80% of median income limit at $62,000 for one person, $70,960 for two and $88,550 for four. The City also runs a Home Improvement Program for owners under 80% of area median income who need urgent repairs, with forgivable, deferred or traditional loans depending on income.
For Idaho Housing’s tax-exempt first loan in Ada County, its chart lists a maximum sales price of $613,662, effective May 6, 2026. That is $115,162 above the Census median value for the city of Boise.
Idaho guides for Boise buyers
Frequently asked questions
What is the median home price in Boise?
The Census Bureau’s 2024 American Community Survey puts the median value of owner-occupied homes in the city of Boise at $498,500 (±$17,793). This is what owners think their home is worth, not the median sale price of recent sales.
Are home prices in Boise going down?
According to the FHFA purchase-only index, prices in the Boise City metro area rose 4.0% between the second quarter of 2025 and the second quarter of 2026. Over five years, they rose 15.0%.
Does Boise have down payment assistance?
Yes. The City of Boise’s Homeownership Opportunity Program offers a deferred mortgage of up to $45,000 to buyers earning 50% to 80% of area median income, for homes inside city limits. Idaho Housing offers up to 8% of the sales price statewide.
How do I apply for the City of Boise’s program?
The City accepts referrals only through two partner organizations listed on the City’s page, which provide the required counseling and help secure the first mortgage. Contact one of them first.
Which Idaho Housing price limit applies in Boise?
For its tax-exempt first loan in Ada County, Idaho Housing’s chart (Rev. 6-03-26) lists a maximum sales price of $613,662. Other limits may apply to other products, so ask an approved lender.
More Idaho guides
- Closing costs in Idaho: what buyers and sellers pay
- Real estate transfer tax in Idaho: what you pay instead
- Idaho property tax: how it works and what the homestead saves
- Seller disclosure requirements in Idaho
- Do you need a real estate attorney to close in Idaho?
- How does foreclosure work in Idaho, and how long does it take?
- Home prices in Idaho and Boise: median value and trend
- First-time home buyer programs in Idaho and Boise
- How to verify a real estate license in Idaho (5 professions)
- Community property and buying a home in Idaho
Sources
- Table B25077, Median Value (Dollars), ACS 1-Year Estimates 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- 2025 ACS Data Release Schedule (U.S. Census Bureau) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- U.S. House Prices Rise 2.1 Percent Year over Year, Up 0.3 Percent Quarter over Quarter (FHFA, August 25, 2026) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- FHFA House Price Index datasets, quarterly purchase-only indexes (state, metro) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- Home Ownership: Homeownership Opportunity Program (City of Boise) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- Homeownership Opportunity Program Policy, revised 2/20/2025 (City of Boise) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- Income and Affordable Rent Guidelines, 2026 (City of Boise) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- Home Improvement Program (City of Boise) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- Down Payment Assistance for Idaho Homebuyers (Idaho Housing and Finance Association) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- Income Limits and Sales Price chart, Rev. 6-03-26 (Idaho Housing and Finance Association) (consulted October 13, 2026)