Thursday, July 29, 2010 28

Best Towns 2010: Boise, Idaho

The winner for best overall town in the western U.S. is Boise, Idaho.

By:
Boise's 8th Street market

POPULATION (METRO) 606,376
MEDIAN HOME PRICE $169,900
HOMETOWN HERO Kristin Armstrong,
2008 Olympic time-trial gold medalist,
bicycling advocate, supermom

THE LIVING: Boise, to put it mildly, has been on a roll. Government, education, and health care remain core industries, but dozens of high-tech startups have moved to town, joining behemoths like Hewlett-Packard and Micron Technology. And while its population has more than doubled in the past 30 years and jaded locals bemoan the sprawl, Boise has managed its growth impressively well: The city is home to nearly 2,000 acres of parks and a 25-mile greenbelt. The outlying areas feel a bit bland, but the older neighborhoods have that Boulder vibe—cruiser bikes, farmers' markets, and prayer flags—only with reasonably priced homes.

THE PLAYGROUND: With a few play waves already in city limits, a $6.7 million white­water park in the works, and life-list runs on the Payette and Salmon within a two-hour drive, the paddling is exceptional and only getting better. There's also a healthy triathlon community and a robust road-biking scene. In winter, before or after work, you can get a quick ski in—nordic or alpine—at Bogus Basin Ski Area, just 16 miles up the road. (Tip: The climb up is also a classic road ride.) And those brown hills above town are laced with more than 135 miles of hiking and mountain-biking trails. Yup, you're going to need a bigger Rocket Box.

THE NEIGHBORHOOD: The Northend neighborhood is as good as Idaho gets: You can walk to the local coffee shop, bike downtown via paths, plant some veggies at the community garden, or hop on singletrack at the end of your block.

Comments

28
The Northend

Thanks for your kind comments about Boise, the Northend and all we have to offer. Boise, like most cities across America, faces many challenges. We are in still in the process of funding the Ray Neef, MD River Recreation Park through private donations and support and, we have other great projects like TrICA's effort to save one of Idaho's top 10 endangered historic sites, the Immanuel ME Church, for a childrens arts center in the heart of the Northend. For more, visit: www.northend.org

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Liz

It's not just the Northend in Boise! The Collister neighborhood has a terrific new anchor in its new Garden Center and Bistro - literally a minute (via car) from a golf course and three parks. Quiet yet only a few minutes from downtown, and if you are lucky enough to live up on one of the foothills that line Hill Rd, you get million dollar views in quiet well established neighborhoods.

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David

You couldn't have picked a better place! My wife and I have used the trail system on a daily basis, which helped us train for the locally-grown Robie Creek 1/2 Marathon, known as the toughest half in the Northwest. 8+ miles straight up hill, followed by 4+ miles straight down. I am a real estate agent here in Boise with Windermere Capital Group, I am a Northend resident and I agree with Liz above, there's much more to Boise than the Northend, but it is truly a gem in the Treasure Valley!!!

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Live, Work, Play

When you live in a place that includes a river, desert, foothills, mountains, skiing, valleys and a lake within the greate two metro area, imagine what it is within just 2 hours.

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Foodies

We love riding our cruisers downtown, and pulling right up to "Berryhill's' for dinner. Our favorite fine dining restaurant in the world (we're regulars), and no jackets required. In fact, we come in shorts most the time! Everyone everywhere here is so approachable and acceptable - there's no place like Boise!

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Patrick

Boise really is a great place to work and live. I work for a investment services software company called Clearwater Analytics and we're known to cut out early for mountain biking. When you have our view and ridable access to great trails from the office, it's bliss. http://www2.clearwateranalytics.com/l/2312/2010-08-13/3KO8H/2312/57587/CWAN_PANA_002.JPG http://www2.clearwateranalytics.com/l/2312/2010-08-13/3KO87/2312/57577/Picture_013.jpg

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Jane

Boise is a great place to live but not such a great place to work. If you are OK with low wages and a very conservative political climate then join us in Boise.

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Kristin - W. Boise

West Boise is awesome, too!! We have many wonderful neighborhoods with amazingly priced housing (it's a STEAL)! There are many options for schools (Public, charter, private, etc), many wonderful churches, parks everywhere! We are close to everything...we always say it takes 20 minutes to get anywhere....airport, downtown, Nampa, etc.....

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Coco Burpee

True, the North End of Boise is awesome but Southeast Boise also has those foothills, a new 70 acre park, the Boise River, many miles of the mentioned Greenbelt, Bown Crossing (a hip new housing/retail/restaurant neighborhood), Harris Ranch, Lucky 13, great schools and people. If you are thinking of buying in Boise, you must check it out too! Those of us who live here seldom leave it!

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Stephanie

I love Boise. It is a great city for a family that is just starting out. The city is really big into buying local and keeping the money in Boise, This makes it a great place to start up a buisness. That small local coffee shop in the north end is Java and its so good. The Bowl of soul is amazing and the pastries are bakes fresh every night and they have fair trade coffee.

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stephanie

I love Boise, and am glad that Boise won. Boise is huge on local buisness, making it a great place to start up a buisness. And a wonderful place to start a family. That small local coffee shop in the north end is Java. The bowl of soul is amazing, the pastries are baked fresh every day just like your mother would do and the coffee is fair trade and organic. Yummy!

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Dee

We just moved here from PA a month or so ago..and I can't believe this place--so much to do, and see, and explore!! We're lovin it..!! They say..once you go West..you'll never go back..we drove out here from PA..what a beautiful, and vast country we live in!!

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Dee

We just moved here from PA a month or so ago..and I can't believe this place--so much to do, and see, and explore!! We're lovin it..!! They say..once you go West..you'll never go back..we drove out here from PA..what a beautiful, and vast country we live in!!

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Brianna

I grew up in Boise and moved to Vegas, Italy and Salt Lake. I miss Boise everyday and go back often to visit the parents. When I go home, there is never a lack of adventures to go on, rivers to raft, mountains to snowboard, hills to hike, Shakespeare plays to watch, baseball games to catch, courses to golf, delicious local restaurants to dine in, nightlife to partake in, BOISE STATE FOOTBALL games to see. Boise has everything an outdoor and cultural enthusiast would love. But shh it's our secret

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John

Don't forget Boise's thriving art scene too! http://blog.kickstarter.com/post/963752223/spotlight-boise

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Ryan

We currently live in CT but my wife's family lives in Boise. We just got done with an 8 day visit and are discussing the possibility of moving there, not just our family but our entire business too. The dry sunny climate, friendly people, and convenience of everything impress everytime we go there. We are also a hockey family and they have Ice World with 2 public rinks and the ECHL team & arena there is awesome too. I grew up skiing the northeast and the skiing in Idaho is hands down better.

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Ryan

We currently live in CT but my wife's family lives in Boise. We just got done with an 8 day visit and are discussing the possibility of moving there, not just our family but our entire business too. The dry sunny climate, friendly people, and convenience of everything impress everytime we go there. We are also a hockey family and they have Ice World with 2 public rinks and the ECHL team & arena there is awesome too. I grew up skiing the northeast and the skiing in Idaho is hands down better.

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allen

I live in Boise, I actually am in the picture of all of the people in the bar. The great thing about living in Boise is that you don't have to live right in the middle of the City to be able to enjoy the many libations that are available. On a bicycle I have enjoyed a sh** load of activities this summer. Lets start with boise music fest, Boise beer fest, Merle Haggard, Barenaked ladies, Bob Dylan, Widespread Panic, Willie Nelson, Tour De Fat, and Boise Hot Air baloon festival. Enough said.

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Jim Paulson

I am blessed to have lived in many different countries and many parts of the United States. When it was time to start my family, I new I wanted to come back to the Pacific Northwest and we settled on Boise where I met my wife while attending Boise State University. (Congrats on beating Virginia Tech on Labor Day!) I have lived here three separate times and for 20 years this time. For more information on Boise real estate, feel free to visit my website at www.Progressive-Realty.info

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Becky Moser

We are so fortunate to live in such a great city surrounded by so many different activities. They failed to speak about our wine country and local wine makers who make some of the best wines in the North West. And we are home not only to some great professional sports but also the BOISE STATE BRONCOS! Congrats BSU on your victory last night against VTech!

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Jean

What a great town we live in and are proud to be part of....college football (Go Broncos!), the mountains, the rivers, the high desert and most of all the wonderful people who live in this town. It's a community not just a city with people who live here. Come visit our city and enjoy our amenities, we are proud of Idaho and of Boise and especially our Bronco Football team! What a class act and a proud example of our beautiful city!

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Calvin

There is a terrible irony here: while this article lists Boise as a "Best Town", a recent MSN article stated that Boise's real estate market was one of the "Top-5 Worst" anticipated for 2011 (national average predicts a 1% drop in real estate value, while Boise is predicted to drop 7%). What the heck!?

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Todd McCauley

Don't forget that Eagle, Idaho is one of the best communities in the Boise area. If you want to check out the Eagle, Meridian and even the Boise area check out my website at www.thehelpprogram.com I have lots of pictures of the community and great blog posts about the area.

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chris c

I had never considered Boise until a job brought me here. I have been here for a year and I could define Boise with two words: easy living. Affordability, vibrant night-life, attractive and absurdly nice people, convenience of everything, dry sunny weather, lakes, an outdoor mecca for any sport. I cannot name another city in the country that allows you to ski powder after work until 10pm and come home to a city night life, go to your desk the next day and do it all over.

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Boise and the surrounding towns are just amazing. It is a pleasure to live here. The people who live here have great respect for the beautiful state. It is very clean, no litter. The landscaping on the streets make it like a park setting. The people are very happy living here and are very friendly. I have lived in many other states, California bay area being one of them. The Treasure Valley beats it hands down in all aspects. Housing here is currently a steal. The area is filled with beautiful top notch subdivisions with quality built homes. Be sure to check out Meridian, Eagle, Kuna and Nampa. There is something for everyone. Also, driving is a pleasure in the valley. There is a few areas that get congested like the famous Eagle road and Fairview intersection. Keep in mind that Is the most traveled intersection in the state. A upscale outdoor shopping centre is currently being built their.

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