A housing survey conducted by U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo’s office gathered responses from more than 5,000 Idahoans in 2025, with results released Thursday pointing to widespread cost pressures for both renters and homeowners across the state.
The survey’s findings paint a detailed picture of housing stress in Idaho, with renters bearing some of the heaviest burdens. Federal housing policy generally designates households spending more than 30 percent of their monthly income on housing as cost-burdened. By that measure, nearly 80 percent of survey respondents earning less than $4,000 per month reported crossing that threshold. Among renters earning between $4,000 and $7,000 monthly — a middle-income tier — nearly 60 percent still exceeded that 30 percent mark.
“The input we received from Idahoans shapes ongoing solutions to address housing challenges facing the state and country,” Crapo said in remarks accompanying the survey release.
Upfront Costs a Major Barrier for Renters
Beyond monthly rent, renters flagged the cost of entering the market as a serious obstacle. Nearly 90 percent of renter respondents said high upfront costs when relocating posed a significant challenge, and 64 percent specifically cited application fees as burdensome. Only about 5 percent of all survey respondents reported using federal housing assistance programs.
Access to the rental market has also been complicated by landlord practices around federally subsidized tenants. One anonymous respondent’s comment captured a common frustration: “We don’t accept Section 8 is the first thing I hear when I call about a listing.”
The issue has generated legislative activity at both the local and state level in recent years. Boise passed rental protection ordinances in 2023 that capped application fees at $30 and prohibited landlords from discriminating against applicants based on income source — a measure aimed squarely at Section 8 voucher holders. The Idaho Legislature moved in the opposite direction in 2024, passing a law that voided cities’ authority to regulate application fees and mandate acceptance of housing vouchers.
During the 2025 session, Boise Democratic Sen. Ali Rabe introduced legislation that would have reinstated restrictions on rental applications. The bill passed the Idaho Senate but stalled in a House committee and did not advance to a floor vote. For more on how Idaho’s legislative session addressed related housing and business regulations, see coverage at Idaho’s new bathroom law and its compliance implications for property owners statewide.
Homeowners Face Property Tax Squeeze
Renters were not alone in reporting financial pressure. Among homeowner respondents, roughly 45 percent identified rising property taxes as a burden on their household budgets, with insurance costs also drawing concern. Those findings reflect a trend that has affected communities across North Idaho and the broader Intermountain West, where rapid population growth and rising property values have pushed assessed values — and tax bills — sharply upward in recent years.
The survey’s largest age group among respondents was those 65 and older, suggesting seniors may feel the affordability squeeze most acutely, particularly on fixed incomes where property tax increases leave little room to adjust.
Regional Preferences Show Diverse Demand
The survey also documented significant regional variation in the types of housing Idahoans say they want. Respondents across the state expressed interest in smaller homes, townhouses, duplexes, accessory dwelling units, and multi-family options — a departure from the single-family-home-only development patterns that have historically dominated Idaho communities.
In North Idaho, respondents indicated interest in cooperative housing and deed-restricted communities. Residents in north central Idaho expressed a preference for smaller homes on smaller lots. South central Idaho respondents favored duplexes, triplexes, and small apartment complexes, while East Idaho respondents pointed to the need for affordable small homes and senior-oriented downsizing options. In Southwest Idaho, increased density and taller apartment buildings ranked as priorities.
Bonner County and the broader North Idaho Panhandle region have seen some of the steepest housing cost increases in the state over the past several years, driven by an influx of out-of-state buyers and remote workers. Local government responses to those pressures remain an ongoing topic of debate, including at the county and municipal level. For perspective on local governance challenges in the region, see recent reporting on the Bonner County GOP reorganization meeting.
What Comes Next
Sen. Crapo’s office has not yet announced specific legislation tied to the survey’s findings, but the data gathered is expected to inform the senator’s approach to federal housing policy in the coming congressional session. Statewide, housing affordability is likely to remain a front-line issue for Idaho lawmakers when the legislature reconvenes, with pressure building from renters, seniors, and homeowners across every region of the state. For broader Idaho policy coverage, readers can follow developments at Idaho News.