Moving from Reno to Boise

Boise is a one-day drive for many households and a very different state to pay taxes in. Idaho is one of the few places on the route list where the move changes income tax, sales tax and winter all at once, and the Census figures describe a city with moderate rents and a steady stream of Nevadans.

Idaho's 30-day deadlines

The Idaho Transportation Department's New to Idaho page says you must title and register your vehicle within 30 days of moving to Idaho, even if the out-of-state registration has not expired. The ITD driver handbook gives the same 30 days to apply for an Idaho driver license.

Older ITD fact sheets mention 90 days, which is the period the agency uses to define residency. The current guidance is the 30-day figure, so plan the DMV visit for the first month.

Income and sales tax

The Idaho State Tax Commission's rate schedule lists a flat 5.3 percent income tax above a small zero-rate band, and a 6 percent sales and use tax. Nevada has no individual income tax and a 6.85 percent statewide minimum sales tax, so the Boise paycheck changes while the register total stays similar. Some Idaho resort towns add local option taxes.

Boise winters and summers

NOAA's normals for the Boise Air Terminal show a January high of 38.8 degrees and a low of 25.5, a July high of 92.7 and a low of 61.9, with 11.51 inches of precipitation and 17.6 inches of snow a year. Boise is drier than Portland and colder in January than Sacramento, similar in many ways to Reno.

The mix of cold nights and snow means winter delivery is planned with the forecast in mind, and your written estimate sets the window.

Housing in the Treasure Valley

The ACS lists Boise City at 237,242 residents with a median household income of $83,904, median gross rent of $1,446 and a median home value of $484,800. Renters are 36.8 percent of households. Across the Boise City metro the median home value is $468,900 and median rent $1,487. Census flows from 2016-2020 show about 257 people a year moving from Washoe County to the Ada, Canyon and Owyhee county area, and the other direction is smaller than its margin of error, so people move both ways.

How the move works with O'Brien's

You book the move with O'Brien's in Sparks. The free in-home estimate is itemized and in writing, and it comes with 10 free heavy-duty boxes that are yours to keep. We coordinate the move through the Bekins Van Lines network. The route uses US 95, I-80 and I-84, and your written estimate sets the delivery window. See how an interstate move works for the steps, or compare with moving from Boise to Reno.