Boise at a Glance
As the biggest city in Idaho in one of the fastest-growing areas in the state, Boise is the cultural gem of the Treasure Valley. This southwestern metropolis of 235,421 has grown by 30,000 since 2010, and Boise’s surrounding cities have expanded at an even more explosive rate — Meridian’s population has nearly doubled in the past 15 years, and Nampa and Caldwell have each added more than 20,000 new residents.
The city’s name may have been inspired by the lofty forests lining the banks of the Boise River — les boisé, as the French colonists proclaimed — but Boise’s reputation has long been staked on the humble spud. Perhaps not wanting to be known as The City of Potatoes, or worse yet, Tater Town, Boise residents hitched their wagon to higher branches and assumed the honor of being The City of Trees. Of course, Boise isn’t the only city with arboreal aspirations. Sacramento — despite embracing their awkward sobriquet of The SAC — also adopted this botanical moniker.
While the sway of Boise’s treetops certainly holds some sway for newcomers, les boisé is just one of many reasons so many people find themselves inclined to move to Boise. Boise boasts higher-than-average wages, lower-than-average poverty rates and unemployment has remained below 4% for the past six months. Boise’s population boom has been a boon to the economy and the job market, too. Tech innovators like Micron, finance giants like Wells Fargo and grocery chain Albertson offer an array of employment possibilities, while Boise State University and the University of Idaho Boise build a well-educated workforce for the region.
And when you’re not at work, there are plenty of ways to unwind in Boise, from visiting museums and historic sites to enjoying the burgeoning food scene. And, naturally, there’s nothing more enjoyable to explore in the City of Trees than the natural world.
So, if you’re looking for a family-friendly city in the Mountain West that’s only getting better as it gets bigger, Boise should be at the top of your list of places to consider moving. Learn more about the city and the spoils of the Treasure Valley below in our moving guide to Boise, where we’ll address the weather, the cost of living, the job and housing markets and our favorite activities, indoors and out.
Living in Boise: A Balanced Life Awaits
This capital city may have been founded during the Gold Rush, but contemporary prospectors have their sights set on more mundane troves than precious ore — the ever-elusive work-life balance.
During the pandemic, Boise became a hub for remote workers, who really meant it when they said they wanted to work remotely. Boise is surrounded by the pristine wilderness and recreation areas of the Treasure Valley, from the rushing riverways to the Boise and Sawtooth National Forests. Whether you’re into fishing, white-water rafting, skiing or mountain biking, southwestern Idaho is a spectacular site for adventure in all four seasons. Soak up those blistering, sunny summer days at Lake Cascade, or warm up on a snowy winter day in the hot springs outside the city.
But the city of Boise is as bustling as the mountains are serene. There are major urban institutions to visit — like the Basque Museum and Cultural Center and the Boise Art Museum — along with fascinating historic sites, from the Old Idaho Penitentiary to the James Castle House, which showcases the works of one of Boise’s best-known artists. While you won’t have the same concentration of urban experiences in Boise as you would in a major coastal metro like San Francisco or Seattle, Boise residents certainly don’t have to live without great art or enriching culture. And the Boise Airport offers direct flights to these cities along with Denver, Salt Lake City, Chicago, Atlanta, Orlando and 22 other continental destinations, so it’s easy to plan a getaway when you need a change of scenery.
What Makes Boise Stand Out
Outdoor Lifestyle at Your Doorstep
Living in Boise gives you the best of everything Idaho has to offer — a wide range of cultural amenities and plenty of opportunities for adventure. When you need a taste of the outdoors during the week, there are many spots to explore just outside your front door, from hiking at Table Rock Trail to kayaking and swimming at Quinn Riverside Park.
Not many places offer a whitewater experience in the heart of the city, but Boise is one of them. Kayakers and surfers can show off their skills on the adjustable wave at Boise Whitewater Park, which has elements for all levels of enthusiasts.
If you prefer two wheels to turbulent waters, the Boise Greenbelt will be just your speed. The shady, 25-mile-long pathway beneath the famous canopy of the City of Trees connects many of Boise’s best parks, better known as the Ribbon of Jewels. There are air and repair stations throughout the course, so you needn’t worry about getting stranded. More adventuresome cyclists can go off-road on the Ridge to Rivers trail system, where you’ll find all the mountain bikers hanging out. And there are several skate and bike parks around the city, like the Ada/Eagle Bike Park and the Boise Bike Park in Military Reserve Park — also a great spot for hiking and picnicking.
Idaho is a haven for hot springs, and if you need to recharge your batteries, where better to do it than in a mineral-rich bath? Schedule a soak in one of the rustic-chic retreats in the mountains, like Burgdorf Hot Springs, where the cabins make up for in charm what they lack in electricity and running water. Some sites are open only for the summer while others are open year-round, often with snowmobile-only access.
When you want to make a quick getaway, head into the Boise National Forest and rent a yurt at Lake Cascade. You and your family can spend the weekend fishing, hiking, swimming and reveling in being OOO and off the grid. Cell phone coverage is blessedly spotty here, so you will legitimately have “limited access to your email” — sorry, bosses!
From May-October, anglers in Idaho will have their Gone Fishin’ signs hanging for one fish alone: Chinook salmon. These Pacific Ocean-dwellers make an annual pilgrimage to the fresh waters of the interior to mate and spawn, and fishermen who are lucky enough to catch them can plan for a feast — these pink-fleshed beasts can weigh more than 30 pounds! Because their habitat is threatened by everything from warming seas to forest fires, there are limits to daily catches. Idaho’s waterways are also filled with numerous types of trout, from rainbow to cutthroat, as well as whitefish, bass and walleye, which is considered a pest, so anglers are encouraged to catch as many as possible. Best places to go: Bull Trout Lake and Johnson Creek, a tributary of the Salmon River.
When cold weather arrives, don’t think you’ll be hiding out indoors in Boise — this is when outdoor activities are really at their best. Take the fam snowtubing and skiing at Bogus Basin, a destination that sounds like it was named by a stoned co-ed but was actually monikered by greedy Gold Rushers who found only the fake article within these mountain veins. This is the closest ski spot to Boise, but Tamarack Resort and the elegant Shore Lodge are just a little over two hours north near Lake Cascade in the Donnelly-McCall area, and Sun Valley has some of the best slopes and nicest accommodations in the region.
A Place to Experience Local Culture
One of the things that sets Boise apart from other mid-size cities is the distinctiveness of its culture. Fan-favorites like Zoo Boise, the Idaho Botanical Garden and the Boise Art Museum are complemented by institutions that tell the unique story of this region — the Idaho Black History Museum, the Basque Museum & Cultural Center and the Idaho Museum of Mining & Geology.
Civic-minded residents who want to watch history being made should visit the Idaho State Capitol, where you can tour the building and see legislative sessions. Afterward, don’t skip a trip to the gift shop, where you’ll have your pick of potato-themed memorabilia: salt & pepper potatoes, a russet potato bank and — of course — a stuffed potato friend. Toppings sold separately.
If you want a taste of the genuine article, grab your canteen of ketchup and your stretchiest pants and set out on the Boise Idaho®️ Potato Trail. This 12-stop trek may be grueling, but you’ll be well-starched by stops at the Boise Fry Company for their purple potato fries with truffle salt, Bear Island Brewing for their IPA — that’s Idaho Potato Ale, TYVM — and Guru for their Hipsterberry potato donuts. Make your last stop the Westside Drive-In for their legendary ice cream potato. Rather than being potato-based, this frozen treat is a cleverly scooped portion of cocoa-rolled vanilla, split down the middle and dolloped with whipped cream.
One of the things that makes Boise a great place to live are all the events, and one of the Treasure Valley’s longest-running traditions is the Caldwell Night Rodeo. Now more than 100 years old, Rowdies and Civies alike pack the stands for this week of roping, wrestling and racing that showcases some of the most daredevilish athletes on four hooves in the nation.
But not everything in Boise is beholden to convention. The Treefort Music Fest — a multi-day music and arts festival — embraces the weird, the wild and the wondrous with forts of all sorts — Hackfort and Alefort, Skatefort and Storyfort, Kidfort and Yogafort. There is a space for every kind of amusement, diversion and passion at Treefort, so if you’ve yet to find your kind in Boise, don’t miss this festival.
Boise has a prominent Basque population, and each year residents can overindulge in the best food and drink that this unique Spanish region has to offer. That includes the yearly Running of the Bars. Probably less dangerous than trying to outrun live bulls, this pub crawl begins in the Basque Block and progresses through area establishments, where participants will be asked to perform a variety of quirky tasks from steer-roping to sheep-shearing. PSA: sheep do not enjoy drunk haircuts any more than humans do, so maybe shear first, drink afterwards.
Other fun annuals include the BIPOC Playwrights Festival, the Boise Comic Arts Festival, the Indian Food Festival and the Boise Tree-Climbing Competition — hey, you do live in The City of Trees, now, so why now make it interesting?
Boise’s Work Environment and Educational Opportunities
Boise’s job market may have strong roots in convention but it is technological innovation that has been driving the population boom in the city since the 1990s. Trade, transportation and utilities is still the largest single sector in the region, supporting nearly 78,000 jobs. With Boise State University, the University of Idaho Boise, St. Luke’s and Alphonsus Health System, education and health services account for 65,400 jobs, making it the second-largest industry in the city and one that additionally supports the well-being of the entire region. Unsurprising for the capital city, the government has a strong presence, employing 54,000 Boise residents.
But if you combine professional and business services, financial activities and information, you’ll see where more than 85,000 residents of this metro area have found their careers. Micron Technology, which is a global powerhouse in the superconductor industry, leads the pack, but Citigroup and Wells Fargo also have offices in the area.
Employment rates in the city have bucked some national trends, with the year-over-year unemployment rate rising only to 3.5%, compared with the national rate that’s now swelled to 4.4%.
Remote workers make up a sizable part of Boise’s labor force — transplants from California, in particular, have been opting for Boise’s sprawling woodlands over more cosmopolitan conveniences. But don’t worry — you can still get a great cortado and a slice of avocado toast here, just maybe not on every corner.
Challenges of Moving to Boise
The population boom has unsurprisingly caused a housing bubble in Boise, so affordability is not what it used to be in the capital city. While the median home value in the U.S. stands at $303,400, Boise’s has already risen to $456,000. Prices in Meridian are even higher. Renters have a bit of an easier time, as Boise’s average tenant will spend $1,359/month — only a few dollars above the U.S. median.
Income levels are slightly higher in Boise than they are in the average U.S. city, but not enough to offset the added living expenses. The median household income in the city is $81,308 — the second highest of the major cities in the Treasure Valley — bested only by Meridian, where residents bring home nearly $100,000 per household per year. Two other indicators of prosperity in Boise? Home ownership rates in this college town are at an impressive 63% — only two points below the U.S. norm — and poverty rates are lower than they are nationally. There is an even greater percentage of residents who own their own homes in Meridian, Nampa and Caldwell — a sign that many residents are in this for the long haul.
Speaking of hauls, all these newcomers are creating quite a backup on the roads in the part of the country best known for its wide-open spaces. The mean travel time to work in the city is still only 19 minutes — much faster than the national average — but if you’re planning a suburban commute, you’ll face averages of 22-25 minutes. One of the problems is that public transportation hasn’t developed at the same rate that the actual public has, and like so many Americans, Boise residents only grudgingly give up traveling by car. This is understandable when there isn’t a good alternative — or sometimes any alternative — in a sprawling but still remote region.
If you’re committed to limiting your auto usage, there are great bike and pedestrian paths throughout the city. And in this rugged, rodeo-centric, Western terrain, you probably wouldn’t feel totally out of place on a horse. You can ride right up to the Capitol and ask your legislator to water it for you.
Is Boise, Idaho the Right Move for You?
Are you ready to move to a city with small-town charm, big-city fun and loads of outdoor adventure? If so, Mayflower can give you all the help you need to move to Boise.
Get a moving quote now for Boise, Idaho.
Understanding how to select the right professional moving company is the first step for anybody considering relocating. Mayflower has nearly a century of experience helping families through this process — that’s why we are the nation’s most-trusted mover. Whether you’re moving locally or across the country, our movers help can ensure you have a stress-free moving experience.
Making a cross-country move to Boise? You can trust that our nationwide network of long-distance movers can handle all your needs. We’re fully licensed for interstate moves, and Mayflower offers unbeatable full-service moving packages that can be customized to your relocation. Need to store your belongings during your move? No problem! Want a hand packing and unpacking? Our team is equipped to handle your most precious belongings. Need to ship your car? Mayflower can take care of it. Your personal moving coordinator will manage all the details and make your move a seamless experience.
Making a local move within Idaho? If you’re moving to Boise from another location in the region or the state, our interstate Idaho agents/movers can help you with local moves under their own businesses and brands.
Get a jumpstart on your move with Mayflower’s moving checklist and planner, which can help you schedule appointments, get moving supplies and find resources in your new community before you arrive. Want even more help? Don’t reinvent the moving wheel — consult our moving blog to discover pro tips to save you time, money and the headache of going alone. You’ll find our latest articles on packing up and settling in through Welcome HOME magazine, the ultimate digital guide to moving.
Still on the fence about Boise? Read about other destinations you’ve considered in our city guides and state guides to see which places best align with your hopes, dreams and bottom lines.
Other Moving Tips and Guides
- Loading...