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Boise

#10 in Best Places to Live in Idaho
  • A
    Overall Grade
  • City in Idaho
  • 455 reviews
    A
    Overall Niche Grade
    How are grades calculated?
    1. Public Schools
      A-
    2. Crime & Safety
      C+
    3. Housing
      B
    4. Nightlife
      A-
    5. Good for Families
      A-
    6. Diversity
      B+
    7. Jobs
      B+
    8. Weather
      A-
    9. Cost of Living
      C+
    10. Health & Fitness
      A-
    11. Outdoor Activities
      A
    12. Commute
      A-
    View Full Report Card
    Boise is a city in Idaho with a population of 224,300. Boise is in Ada County and is one of the best places to live in Idaho. Living in Boise offers residents a dense suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In Boise there are a lot of bars, coffee shops, and parks. Many families and young professionals live in Boise and residents tend to lean conservative. The public schools in Boise are highly rated.
    About Boise...
    Population
    224,300

    Real Estate

    Median Home Value
    $230,800
    National
    $184,700
    Median Rent
    $910
    National
    $949
    Area Feel
    Dense Suburban
    Rent vs. Own
    • Rent
      40%
    • Own
      60%
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    Boise Rankings

    Niche rankings are based on rigorous analysis of key statistics from the U.S. Department of Education and millions of reviews.

    Boise Neighborhood Map

    • Public Schools
    • Private Schools

      Crime & Safety

      Crime & Safety
      C+
      Based on violent and property crime rates.
      Violent Crimes
      • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
      National
      • Assault
        178.8
        282.7
      • Murder
        0.4
        6.1
      • Rape
        75.5
        40.7
      • Robbery
        22.2
        135.5
      Property Crimes
      • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
      National
      • Burglary
        278.3
        500.1
      • Theft
        1,624.8
        2,042.8
      • Motor Vehicle Theft
        115.2
        284

      Residents

      Diversity
      B+
      Based on ethnic and economic diversity.
      Age
      • <10 years
        12%
      • 10-17 years
        10%
      • 18-24 years
        11%
      • 25-34 years
        15%
      • 35-44 years
        14%
      • 45-54 years
        12%
      • 55-64 years
        12%
      • 65+ years
        14%
      Education Levels
      National
      • Master's degree or higher
        14%
        12%
      • Bachelor's degree
        27%
        19%
      • Some college or associate's degree
        32%
        29%
      • High school diploma or equivalent
        21%
        28%
      • Less than high school diploma
        5%
        13%

      Working in Boise

      Jobs
      B+
      Based on employment rates, job and business growth, and cost of living.
      Median Household Income
      $56,798
      National
      $55,322
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      Boise Reviews

      455 reviews
      All Categories
      Boise is a great place to be active! I love having the foothills close by to run, hike, and mountain bike in! There is a growing ski resort just 45 minutes drive from downtown. Boise is growing and real estate is expensive. Unfortunately, the salaries have not increased at the same level of housing costs. Generally people are nice, but not super friendly. Downtown is still very livable, with grocery stores, drug stores, entertainment, restaurants, and work all with in walking and biking distances. Because Boise is the biggest city for hours, we have some of the great amenities of a bigger city without having to be so large. We have great arts and concerts for being as small as we are. I love catching an outdoor concert in the summer or attending a concert by one of our many orchestra groups.
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      I love Boise. It’s exactly what I was looking for: A safe, community oriented area that is growing quickly! People in Boise are friendly and there is culture beginning to spring up in this once-sleepy city in southern Idaho. In addition to this, exercise and physical health are encouraged here: there are countless trails, to be explored by bike or on foot, and Bogus Basin is just up the road for Winter Sports. The schools here, though, are pretty poor. Housing is beginning to become expensive, which is also unfortunate.
      I absolutely love Boise! I have grown up here and spent my entire childhood falling even more in love with this city. There are endless possibilities of activities to do. I'm always able to get outside and in my community by hiking to Table Rock, floating the Boise river, and going to the many festivals and art shows throughout the year. And let me just say how beautiful Boise is. Many trees, breathtaking sunsets and even clean streets. I hope others love Boise as much as I do!