Thinking about moving to Boise?
Youre in the right place.
Ive lived in Boise for the past 12 years.
Pros & Cons of Living in Boise Idaho | (Shutterstock/Charles Knowles)
Ive watched the city grow from a hidden gem to one of the fastest growing cities in the US.
Lets dive right in!
The last democratic governor in the state was Cecil Andrus, who left office in 1995.
(Shutterstock/CSNafzger)
You wont find many Democratic politicians in office outside of Boise, and conservative state policies reflect that.
Rather, Ill mention the stats for you to take into consideration before moving to Boise.
Idaho is considered one of themost gun friendly statesin the country.
(Shutterstock/Charles Knowles)
If youre interested in learning more about the gun laws in Idaho,read this handy guide.
In 2018, Boise was rankedthe fastest growing city in America.
Perks of Moving to Boise
#1.
Access to Outdoor Recreation
Boise is a sight for sore eyes.
I love being within a one-hour drive to epic outdoor recreation.
Locals are keen to protect this little Eden and everyone pitches in to keep the community safe.
As such, Boises crime rates arewell below the national average.
#3.
But, having lived in other similar-sized cities, I think the city is still affordable.
Indeed, the housing costs in Boise are 22% higher than the national average.
But thatss hardly surprising, considering the impressive growth Idaho has gone through in the previous 2 years alone.
Homes arent affordable anywhere, it seems.
#4.
Strong Job Economy
Moving to Boise for a new job?
Youre in good hands.
Boise is considered one of thebest cities in the country for job seekersbecause of the booming job economy.
#5.
The city is no stranger to hot summers, cold winters and striking autumns and springs.
Glorious seasons aside, another perk of moving to Boise is the abundant sunshine.
Boise gets 206 days of sunshine per year and minimal rainfall.
Winters in Boise bring atmospheric inversions that catch newcomers by surprise.
This results in blankets of dense fog envelop the valleys.
As such, Boise get trapped by layers of pollution and causes air stagnation.
This tends to get challenging for folks struggling with asthma, so youll need to be mindful.
#6.
Great Downtown Area
Another great thing about moving to Boise is the vibrant downtown core.
Its not massive (like other places Ive lived) so it doesnt feel overwhelming.
It makes me feel like Im living in a big small town not a city.
This in turn, makes living in Boise feel like a real community.
Cons of Living in Boise
#1.
The wage-to-housing ration is absurd.
But before my blood starts to boil, lets talk about the insane housing market.
#2.
Expensive Housing
Im just going to say it: the current housing prices in Boise are downright laughable.
Recall how I mentioned Boise is one of the fastest growing cities in the US?
Well, that comes with growing pains and the housing market is proof.
#3.
Idahos public school system is rated asone of the worst in the country.
For reference, the national average is 61% enrollment rate.
Idaho isone of 12 statesthat doesnt offer state-funded Pre-K programs to children under 5 years old.
Not to mention our abysmal graduation rate, which is consider thetop 10 lowestacross all US states.
Otherwise youll be taking a risk in our under-performing public school system.
#4.
Lack of Diversity
Something folks dont realize before moving to Boise is the lack of diversity.
Its a mono-cultured city, one of theleast ethnically diverse citiesin America, actually.
Lets talk stats, because Im sure this will ruffle some feathers.
More than88% of residents identifyas white, leaving little room for diversity.
