Cost of Living in Star
Star runs genuinely expensive by national housing standards even amid a real, current 2026 cooling, layered with Idaho's low, flat 5.3% state income tax and Ada County's comparatively low property tax rate.
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Learn moreHousing costs carry a real, wide, disclosed spread
Zillow's typical home value ran $560,399 (down 12.9% year-over-year), while Redfin's median sale price ran a closely aligned $561,000 but UP 2.1% year-over-year over its own window -- a real, disclosed divergence reflecting different index methodologies. Movoto's August 2026 listing median ran higher still, at $639,000.
Rent carries an even wider spread
One-bedroom rent figures ranged $1,660-$1,910/month across five sources reviewed (Zumper, RentalSource, Apartment Finder, Apartment List, Rentable) -- confirm a specific listing directly rather than budgeting off any single citation.
Idaho's flat income tax and Ada County's property tax
Idaho's flat 5.3% state income tax applies statewide, not specifically to Star. Ada County's effective property tax rate carries a real, disclosed spread of roughly 0.46%-0.76% across methodologies; this record uses 0.52% as its representative figure.
A low, flat 6% sales tax with zero local add-on
Ada County imposes no local-option sales tax add-on -- the combined rate paid in Star is Idaho's flat statewide 6%, distinct from Idaho's voter-approved resort cities that layer up to a further 3% on top.
Key takeaways
- Star's housing figures carry a real, disclosed spread ($560,399-$639,000 depending on source) and even a disclosed disagreement on YoY direction.
- One-bedroom rent runs $1,660-$1,910/month across sources -- a genuinely wide, unreconciled range.
- Ada County's effective property tax rate runs roughly 0.46%-0.76%; this record uses 0.52% as representative.
- Idaho's flat 6% sales tax applies in Star with zero local add-on.
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