Mountain Home, ID vs Payette, ID

Payette is moderately more affordable than Mountain Home, with a 11.5% lower cost of living index. Mountain Home scores 87 compared to 78 for Payette, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Mountain Home can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Mountain Home is $1,061/month compared to $846/month in Payette — a 25% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Payette is more affordable at $247,700 median vs $270,700.

Median household income in Mountain Home is $58,486 compared to $55,455 in Payette (+5.5%). Mountain Home does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Mountain Home spend roughly 21.8% of their income on rent, more than the 18.3% in Payette.