According to Forbes, the Boise metro region is one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States, with a rush of younger millennials migrating to the “city of trees” for economic opportunities and greater quality of life.
Boise and its nearby neighborhoods were the Northwest’s best-kept mystery for centuries. With a population growth expected to reach one million by 2040, small communities and large cities coexist in Idaho’s capital, commonly known as the Treasure Valley. Each has distinct benefits and radically varying housing alternatives (and prices).
Whether you like big-city activity, rolling foothills, tranquil farmlands, or sleepy suburbia, Boise has a home for you. In this article, you’ll learn what the city vibe is like in Boise and find some of the best stores, coffee shops, and trendy bars.
Is Boise a Cool Place to Live?
Here are five reasons why Boise is a cool place to live.
1. Affordability
One of the primary reasons people relocate to Boise is the low cost of living. Houses that would be too expensive in New York or Los Angeles have a median home price of $221,475, which is below the national average. Food prices are also substantially lower than in other parts of the United States. Boise has a lot of agricultural resources, and the price of groceries is usually inexpensive, but the quality of the items is extremely high.
2. Education and Employment Opportunities
Boise boasts excellent schools and institutions. Boise State University is the state’s largest public university, offering doctorate and master’s degrees in a variety of subjects. For students who work yet want to study in the evenings, the institution also provides night sessions and extended studies. Southeast Boise is home to around one-sixth of the city’s workforce, and two of the city’s top businesses, Micron and Albertsons, are based there.
3. A Mix of Rural and Urban
The Boise metro area is a vibrant city with diversified culture and numerous entertainment options. You can attend the Shakespeare Festival and listen to the Boise Philharmonic Orchestra or check out one of the city’s numerous museums. There are touring bands nearly every week in Boise, which also boasts multiple theaters including an IMAX cinema.
4. Beautiful Nature
Natural parks in Boise include the MK Nature Center and Idaho Botanical Gardens. There are walking and mountain biking paths around the city and various gardens where one may relax and refresh. There are several picnic spaces and locations where you can spend quality time with your loved ones. The Boise River Greenbelt and the Idaho Center for Birds of Prey are both excellent areas to watch a wide variety of exotic and native bird species.
5. Outdoor Recreation
Boise’s outside scenery is stunning. There are several lakes, rivers, hills, trails, and streams, in the region, not to mention the Rocky Mountains, giving you access to some breathtaking and diverse alpine scenery. Boise is also a skier’s heaven since the area features great slopes with plenty of snow. There are lots of outdoor activities such as hiking, kayaking, hot springs, and whitewater rafting.
What’s the Boise Vibe?
Boise, Idaho’s capital city, has experienced exceptional development in recent years as the Gem State’s secret has spread throughout the west. With a population of nearly 225,000, it is by far the biggest city in the state and home to a geothermally heated government building.
Every year, Boise appears on a number of top 10 lists. The city has been named one of the best downtown areas in the United States, as well as the best place to retire and raise a family.
While housing prices are growing, the total cost of living in Idaho remains reasonable, especially when compared to other prominent West Coast towns. If you’re interested, you can research more on the expensive home sales in Idaho.
People that relocate to the Boise region will fall in love with the mountains that can be seen from any vantage point in the city. Boise’s property market is hot, and prices have grown dramatically in recent years, yet it is still cheap when compared to West Coast towns such as Portland and Seattle.
Boise is an excellent alternative for those who enjoy spending time outside and don’t mind a few months of snow in the winter.
Getting about Boise is not difficult since the city’s highway network has done a decent job of keeping up with the city’s expansion. For those who reside in the Downtown area, there are enough entertainment, dining, and shopping alternatives close to allow for a car-free living.
Trendy Bars in Boise
1. Boise Brewing
Boise Brewing, located in downtown Boise, is not the area’s largest brewery, but what it lacks in magnitude, it more than compensates for in exceptional quality and meticulousness. Smaller lot brewing not only allows for more variety in their taproom but also allows them to utilize finer ingredients, such as fruits and honey from local farms.
2. Pengilly’s Saloon
Pengilly’s Saloon, located on Main Street, has been named among Esquire magazine’s top 100 bars in the country. With its Brunswick century-old bar and aged hardwood floorboards, this tavern is unmistakably retro.
3. Press & Pony
Press & Pony specializes in specialty drinks, burgers, and artisan beer. The decor of the pub is lush and dark as if you’ve walked off the street and into a scene from a film noir.
4. Bodovino
While many Boise bars specialize in specialty cocktails or craft beer, the downtown restaurant Bodovino is all about wine. There are over 140 distinct wines on tap at any given time. The ambiance at this bar is truly one-of-a-kind, with the largest collection of Wine Emotion Machines in the US.
5. Spacebar Arcade
Spacebar Arcade, located in the center of Boise’s historic district, combines a childhood passion for board games, comic books, and arcade games with an adult appreciation of fine beer. So kick back, sip one of the bar’s carefully chosen draft beers, and embrace your inner nerd.
Cool Coffee Shops in Boise
1. Flying M Coffee
Flying M Coffee, a popular late-night study area, has a unique, eclectic air, with rotating art and unusual presents adorning the shelves and walls. Flying M has everything, whether it’s a specialized coffee beverage or a fresh-squeezed glass of orange juice.
2. Push and Pour
Push and Pour is located in this vibrant neighborhood and serves great coffee in an industrial, vintage-inspired setting. This coffee shop’s laid-back ambiance complements the creative, avant-garde aura of Garden City’s newest acquisitions.
3. Neckar Coffee
Neckar Coffee, riding the tide of interest in artisan coffee in Boise Idaho, has just built a storefront operation to complement its current roasting company downtown. Neckar’s new location is clean and contemporary, with a top-of-the-line manual espresso machine.
4. District Coffee House
The District’s airy, trendy ambiance, espresso bar, and fresh pastries are all part of what makes it a neighborhood favorite. They provide craft pour-over coffee with various single-origin alternatives, as well as espresso beverages and smoothies, catering to both connoisseurs and everyday coffee drinkers.
5. Hyde Perk
Hyde Perk is located on historic 13th Street in the lovely North End. Hyde Perk serves cold and hot specialty coffee drinks, pastries, teas, and dry products from local vendors. The inviting ambiance welcomes you to read, catch up with a buddy or use your laptop.
Shopping in Boise
1. Downtown Eagle
Eagle has everything, from secondhand to home décor to a LEGO-themed play store. Downtown Eagle is notable for its attractive and small village complete with outdoor and indoor retail venues.
2. Treasure Valley Marketplace
To mention a few of the many stores at the Treasure Valley Marketplace, there is Costco, Best Buy, Target, and Ulta. In addition to several restaurants, Treasure Valley Marketplace is your one-stop-shop for clothing, groceries, and household needs.
3. Boise Towne Square
The Boise Towne Square, the state’s largest retail complex with over 150 retailers, is the go-to location for national anchor stores. Its covered retail environment is ideal for avoiding a cold winter day or a sweltering summer afternoon.
4. Downtown Boise
Downtown Boise is a hotspot for local retailers, boutiques recognized for unique accessories, and shops specializing in bicycle gear. Stroll around downtown to uncover tiny stores and well-known brands.
5. The Village at Meridian
Take a stroll through the Village at Meridian, which has exquisite dining, luxury shops, and the Village Theater. In addition, relish some of the community’s most enjoyable activities, such as holiday festivities and live music.
Endnote
Millennials are relocating to Boise, mainly from Utah, Oregon, Washington, and California. With them come fashionable new breweries, restaurants, wineries, and coffee shops. Boise boasts a low cost of living, a thriving innovation industry, easy access to nature, and public transportation. Whether you like a slower-paced rural lifestyle or the hustle and bustle of city living, the suburbs and cities in the Boise, ID region are likely to have your next ideal house.
Are you considering selling your home and wondering, “Who will buy my house Boise?” At Gem State Cash Offer we buy houses in Idaho. We’re also cash home buyers in Meridian. Let us help you sell your house fast without repairs and the cost that comes with real estate agents. Don’t hesitate to give us a call today!