Boise is a recreationalist’s paradise. If you value the outdoors and time spent among rivers, mountains, canyons, deserts and lakes – and all the activities encapsulated therein – it’s worth a serious look.
Boise, ID, Quick Stats
- City Population277,498
- Median Home Price$422,080
- Median Monthly Rent$1,418
- Median Age39 years old
- Median Househould Income$85,886
- Unemployment Rate3.24%
Some of the wildest locations in the lower 48 states can be found in the foothills around Boise. Boiseans who enjoy hiking, mountain biking, and trail running may find more than 180 miles of public trails crisscrossing those hills, which have been spared from development because the people are prepared to pay taxes.
During the summer, when daylight can last well until 9 p.m., Boiseans visit the trails after work. The Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area, located around 15 miles up into the hills, is where locals go skiing and snowboarding in the winter. The Boise River, which flows through the area, is home to a multicolored ribbon of rafts, kayaks, and inner tubes in the summer, as locals seek relief from the intense heat of the desert.
Although living in Boise can be fairly expensive, it offers excellent value for the money when compared to other Northwest metro regions, such as Portland, Oregon, and Seattle. Idaho, on the other hand, has always placed a high priority on low taxes, with a sales tax of 6% and a progressive income tax rate that ranges from about 1% to 7%. Additionally, Idaho has far lower monthly energy expenses and auto insurance rates than the rest of the nation.
Because of its low crime rate and wealth of outdoor activities, Boise is often praised as a great place to raise a family. Retirees seeking a place to stretch their retirement funds without compromising convenient access to quality healthcare options are also drawn to the metro area.
Numerous small enterprises, as well as the arts and culture, have flourished in Boise as a result of the influx of refugees from other parts of the world, especially Africa and the Middle East. Additionally, Boise is home to one of the biggest Basque communities in the US. The culture and food of this tribe from the Pyrenees region of southern France and northern Spain are on display in downtown Boise’s “Basque Block,” which includes restaurants and a museum.
