Boise tops several lists for the best place to live in the United States, and there are several reasons why. Maybe it’s the charming downtown with local breweries and restaurants, or the easy access to the many corners of the valley, it really depends on who you’re talking to! I’ve listed five reasons why I love Boise, and why so many of my buyers have made the move to the City of Trees.
Boise is Affordable
The housing market in Boise might be hot, but the cost of living is still affordable. Boise has an unemployment rate of 2.3 percent, lower than the national average of 3.7 percent. According to PayCity, the cost of living is eight percent lower in Boise compared to the national average.
Dream of being a homeowner? Idaho has the ninth highest homeownership rate in the nation at 70.7 percent! Check out Nerd Wallet’s calculator to determine the cost of living from where you’re moving compared to Boise.
The Climate
Those living in the Treasure Valley are lucky enough to experience all four seasons. You might see some snow during the winter, but it’s unusual to have large snowstorms or snowdrifts. Fall is short but gorgeous, while cool spring weather tends to linger usually into May. Thanks to the semi-arid climate, Boise summers are hot and dry, with temperatures dropping at night. This variety of weather makes it easy to enjoy all the outdoor activities!
The Great Outdoors
Speaking of outdoor activities, there are so many to enjoy in Boise that you might not know where to start. You can hit the slopes at Bogus Basin Ski Resort in the winter (it’s just a 45 minute drive from Boise!) or traverse the foothills on a mountain bike in the summer. You can hike the numerous trails located around Treasure Valley, or conquer them in snowshoes. Don’t forget about floating the Boise River!
The Greenbelt itself is a destination, providing a gorgeous safe place to ride bikes or enjoy a stroll. There’s also numerous restaurants along the path making it easy to grab a meal or drink.
Low Crime Rate
There’s a reason why Boiseans often leave their front doors unlocked—Boise is one of the safest cities in the nation (though I recommend locking your doors!). WalletHub ranks Boise as the 25th safest city in the United States (among 180 cities). While City Data states Boise’s crime rate is 1.4 times smaller than the U.S. average. Though the population of Boise has been exploding, crime actually dropped 7 percent in 2018 from 2017.
The People
The first thing visitors usually notice when they visit the City of Trees is the kindness of the residents. Boiseans are naturally friendly, the Boise Kind initiative has put these acts of goodwill forefront. The initiative is a collaboration between the City, the community, leaders, and non-profits, and almost 3,000 acts of kindness have been acknowledged since the initiative started in 2018.
No matter why you decide to move to the Treasure Valley, I want to make sure you feel right at home! I love helping new residents find their dream home in my favorite city. Give me a call or shoot me an email if you have any questions about Boise or local real estate!
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