Boise, Idaho: geography and demographics

¶ … Boise, Idaho. Specifically it will discuss why Boise, Idaho is a great place to live, why the economy is growing, and why it is number eight on Money Magazine's list of top places to live in the United States. Boise, Idaho is a fast growing city located in southern Idaho - desirable because it enjoys good weather, low real estate prices (compared to national averages), recreation, and a host of other benefits. Boise is a great place to live, and more people are discovering the joys of Boise every day.

Boise, Idaho (population 211,473) is a metropolitan city located along the Boise River, with the Rocky Mountains as a backdrop for the city. It is the largest city in Idaho and is the capital of the state, as well. The city sprawls over 1,645 square miles, and lies at an elevation of 2,842 feet. It receives about 12 inches of rain a year, along with 234 sunshine days, making it a temperate location with all the amenities of a larger city ("City of Boise," 2007). The city's location is good for shipping and transport, along with recreation and development. All of these combine to make Boise a very desirable place to live, work, and play.

Boise took eighth place in the 2006 Money Magazine list of Best Places to Live in the country. Money used several criteria to choose the cities they found the best, including weather, population (under 300,000 but more than 50,000), schools, recreation, and more. They also screen out communities with "low education scores, high crime rates, absurdly high housing costs, declines in employment or income less than 90% of the state median. Remove bedroom communities and places where people identify themselves as being from a smaller locale within the area" ("Best Places," 2006). They also looked for good schools, employment opportunities, and areas with low crime rates. Although Boise does not rate perfectly in every area, it has enough plusses to make it one of the most desirable of the mid-sized American communities.

Schools and education are important to families, and Boise offers three colleges and universities, two junior colleges, and several private schools, as well. In addition, one-half of the state's budget goes to education, and it ranks in the top 33% of states with the most high school graduates. There are also a variety of day care and after school options for working parents throughout the area. This makes Boise a desirable area for families just starting out, or growing families looking for a better place to raise their children.

Employment is also a key issue in creating a desirable place to live or relocate, and Boise has a diversified economy that includes mining and forestry, agriculture, and tourism. However, many large technology companies, such as Hewlett-Packard and Micron have relocated at least some of their operations to Boise, creating growth in the technical, healthcare, and business and information services sectors of employment. In addition, for the last several years, jobs and employment have grown, which means employers are still adding employees in Boise ("Workforce and Education," 2007). The unemployment rate has been under 5.0 for several years running, as well. This creates a robust economy and good employment opportunities for residents, which only adds to the city's appeal.

One of the things that makes Boise so desirable is the recreational opportunities throughout the area. There are 31 public golf courses in the area, along with six ski resorts within 100 miles. The city boasts dozens of city parks, but the city's location is one of the best recreational areas in the country. Fishing and river rafting are popular on the Boise River, and the Boise River Greenbelt offers 25 miles of riverfront walking, biking, and jogging paths. Hiking is extremely popular in the area, and hikers can choose from desert or mountain locations within a few minutes of downtown Boise. There is also snowmobiling and snowboarding in winter, along with skiing. Outdoor recreational opportunities are endless, and with mild winters, the area is popular with outdoor enthusiasts all year round. Combine that with a thriving arts community that includes museums, orchestras, galleries, and many local events each year, and the area becomes a recreational paradise.

Another plus for Boise are the low real estate prices compared to other areas, especially in the West. Boise's average home price is $183,008, compared with an average among the "Best Places" list of $259,566. In addition, home prices have risen higher in the Boise area than in the other Best Places, giving real estate investors more return on their investment at a lower price. Home prices rose an average of 14.80% in Boise from 2004 to 2005, compared with an average of 9.26% in the other Best Places ("Best Places," 2006). This means Boise is a good location for young families just starting out, because homes are more affordable. It is also a good bet for retirees who want more value for their retirement dollars.

Boise is part of a larger metropolitan complex that includes Nampa, Meridian, and other suburbs (the complex is called the Treasure Valley), which means there are more recreational, leisure, and other activities available throughout the area. It also means that suburban residents do not have to travel as far to find recreational and leisure activities, or schools and shopping, because they are present throughout the community. Churches of many faiths are represented in the community, and there is a large Mormon population in the area.

Commuters also like Boise, because a large percentage of the population commutes less than 20 minutes to work, and only four percent have a commute longer than 45 minutes ("Best Places," 2007). It is easy to see why so many Southern Californians are moving to Boise just because of these statistics alone. Downtown Boise has undergone a transformation in recent years, and over 44,000 people work downtown now. This means recreation and leisure activities downtown have also grown, including restaurants and bars, theaters, galleries, and much more have opened, and there are many restaurants and businesses located right on the Boise River ("Downtown Boise," 2007). The quality of life in Boise is attractive, there is a thriving arts community, and recreation is just a few miles in any direction. Boise is just a nice place to live!