Living in Boise, ID
Mid-size city in Idaho
Boise is a mid-size city in Idaho, home to about 236,000 people, with 643,000 living within 31 mi. Day to day, there is some transit, though many people drive. Life moves at a relaxed pace, and homes are mostly houses.
In short: Easy access to the outdoors and a safe, family-friendly city with sunny seasons. Growing fast.
Is Boise a good place to live? Pros and cons
👍 Pros
- Low natural disaster risk: 2 federally declared disasters since 2000
- Strong healthcare: 4 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
- Dog-friendly: 19 dog parks within 9 mi
- Safe: violent crime is 0.7× the US rate (FBI 2019)
👎 Cons
- Smaller job market: about 643,000 people live within 31 mi
Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Boise ranks against your own priorities.
Key facts
Living in Boise: common questions
What is the cost of living in Boise?
A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $474k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $2,320 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are close to the US average (index 98, where the US is 100).
What are taxes like in Boise?
Idaho collects about $1,639 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 0.62% of their home's value in property tax each year.
Is Boise safe?
Violent crime is well below the national rate (0.7× in FBI 2019 data).
What is the weather like in Boise?
Boise has cold winters: winter days average around 41°F and summer days around 88°F, with roughly 18″ of snow a year.
Does Boise get natural disasters?
Natural disaster risk is low, mainly from flooding: 2 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.32 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.
What is the nearest major airport to Boise?
The nearest major airport is BOI, about 2 mi away.
How Boise scores
Each bar compares Boise with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).
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Nearby
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Is Boise right for you?
Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.