Hitting restart? You may want to head to Boise, Idaho for your next big city adventure, according to a recent Consumer Affairs study

Consumer Affairs, a consumer news platform that provides guides for major purchases, recently ranked the best places to move to start over in 2026 — comparing 100 U.S. cities based on affordability, safety quality of life and other factors.

Wilmington, North Carolina, took first place, thanks to its “robust economic opportunity, ample rentals and a rich recreational scene,” the study, published Jan. 7, said. “It’s got the whole package for someone ready to hit the reset button.”

Boise placed No. 2 overall.

“Idaho may be known for its potatoes, but you don’t need to be a spud to put down new roots in Boise,” Consumer Affairs said.

Here’s what makes Boise one of the top places to start over:What makes Boise one of the best places to start over?

“People look for fresh starts for all kinds of reasons: a career change, rising costs or that quiet ‘I think it’s time’ feeling,” Dayna Edens, media relations manager at Consumer Affairs, wrote in an email to the Idaho Statesman.

Ranking Boise second in the nation is “a bold statement, I know,” Edens said. “Hear me out.”

According to Edens, Boise “performs well across the factors that matter most to people starting over.”

The City of Trees ranked second in the nation in economic stability and opportunity, which “helps reduce risk for people making a major life change,” according to Edens.

“The city offers a thriving economy ... including rising incomes and a diversified, growing job market,” Consumer Affairs said.

Boise residents saw 44.4% growth in average annual income, Edens said, helping the city stand out even more.

Boise came in 12th place in terms of safety and was 14th for ease of relocating.

According to NeighborhoodScout, an online neighborhood analysis tool, Boise is a “safer” option than other comparable cities with a crime considerably low amongst cities with a similar population.

Edens said that “11.69% of adults ages 35 to 64 in Boise are single and 14.47% of current residents moved there within the past year.”Is Boise an affordable place to live?

While Boise is a welcoming place for a restart, Consumer Affairs said, newcomers should be aware of a few downsides.

“Affordability is where Boise faces the most challenges,” Edens told the Statesman. “For many movers, Boise represents a trade-off: higher housing costs, but better economic prospects, safety and quality of life.”

According to the study, Boise ranked low in terms of affordability — No. 79 in the United States — with average monthly rent for a single-bedroom apartment costing about $1,765 and home sales averaging $483,839.

In contrast, residents of the No. 1 city in the nation for affordability — Toledo, Ohio — pay $1,134 a month on average for rent and enjoy an average home sale cost of $178,690, Consumer Affairs said.

According to Consumer Affairs, Boise received a “middle of the pack” score for quality of life, ranking at No. 48.

“That doesn’t mean there isn’t much to do on the weekends,” the study said. “The city is just behind top-ranked Wilmington in terms of the highest concentration of sports and social clubs.”

According to Edens, Boise’s low-key lifestyle may be “appealing to young professionals who are looking for a reset that prioritizes balance and long-term stability over nightlife or urban intensity.”Where are the top 10 cities for a fresh start?

According to Consumer Affairs, the top 10 cities to start over are:

•1. Wilmington, North Carolina

•2. Boise

•3. Cleveland

•4. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

•5. Des Moines, Iowa

•6. Portland, Maine

•7. Pittsburgh

•8. Miami

•9. Portland, Oregon

•10. Columbus, OhioWhat are the toughest US cities for a restart?

“In some cities, a combination of factors creates a difficult environment for newcomers to have that fresh start they’re seeking,” Consumer Affairs said.

Those include tight rental markets and shrinking job markets.

Consumer Affairs said these were the “toughest” 10 cities for a restart:

•1. Vallejo, California

•2. Worcester, Massachusetts

•3. McAllen, Texas

•4. Port St. Lucie, Florida

•5. Bridgeport, Connecticut

•6. Springfield, Massachusetts

•7. Memphis, Tennessee

•8. Lakeland, Florida

•9. Boston

•10. Sacramento, CaliforniaHow did Consumer Affairs rank best cities to move?

To determine the best cities to start over, Consumer Affairs analyzed the 100 most populous U.S. cities based on five major categories:

•Quality of life: Access to nature, number of restaurants and community spaces and population of single adults ages 35 to 64

•Economic stability and opportunity: Unemployment rate, job market diversity and income and job growth

•Ease of relocating: Vacancy rates, how many people moved in the prior year, transit access and commute times

•Affordability: Average rent and ratio of average income to average home sale price

•Safety: Violent and property crime rates, plus the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s natural risk score.

Data came from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, New York University Langone Health, Federal Transit Administration, Zillow, NeighborhoodScout and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

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