Living in Boise, Idaho
Idaho's capital and the Treasure Valley's urban center: downtown dining, the Boise River Greenbelt, Boise State University, and the region's largest concentration of jobs and entertainment.
Boise at a glance
Idaho's capital
Boise River Greenbelt
Boise State University
Boise School District
The Town
What it's like to live in Boise
Boise is Idaho's capital and the Treasure Valley's urban core. It holds the region's largest concentration of jobs and entertainment, a walkable downtown, and the Boise River Greenbelt threading along the river through the heart of the city.
Boise State University anchors the east end of the valley, and the city's calendar runs year round, from the Boise Farmers Market's winter market at the Idaho Botanical Garden to the Idaho Veterans Day Parade on Capitol Boulevard. For buyers, Boise means city life: restaurants, arts, Broncos football at Albertsons Stadium, and foothill hiking minutes from downtown.
The Boise River Greenbelt with autumn trees along the banks
Character
What gives Boise its character
Urban energy
Downtown Boise delivers restaurants, breweries, shops, and a lively street scene, with the Capitol and civic institutions at its center.
River and trails
The Boise River Greenbelt runs for miles along the water, and the foothills rise right behind the city for Table Rock and ridge-line hikes.
University anchor
Boise State University brings athletics, arts, research, and a campus community to the eastern end of the valley.
Education
Which school district serves Boise?
The Boise School District serves the capital, with deep-rooted neighborhood schools across the city. Compared with the large suburban districts, Boise's schools carry the character of the city's established neighborhoods.
Families moving to Boise often weigh the neighborhood and its school together, which makes a local guide who knows the boundaries essential.
Boise School District
School assignments in the Treasure Valley are decided town by town and boundary by boundary. Michelle can match your shortlist of homes to the right school picture before you ever make an offer.
Where Boise families live
Boise's housing spans the full range: walkable older neighborhoods near downtown, family homes along the river and Greenbelt, and foothill properties with valley views. The city also anchors the region's price comparison, which is why so many buyers compare a smaller Boise home against a newer, larger one in the surrounding towns.
Things to Do
Local favorites around Boise
A working shortlist of the spots and places worth knowing, from Michelle's own guide to the Treasure Valley.
Boise River Greenbelt
Miles of paved riverfront path for walking, running, and biking through the city.
10 Barrel Brewing Boise
A downtown brewhouse on Bannock Street.
Payette Brewing Company
A brewery south of downtown along the river.
Idaho Botanical Garden
Home of the Boise Farmers Market's winter market and gardens open year round.
Table Rock
The classic foothill hike with a city-and-valley view.
The Right Fit
Who is Boise right for?
Every Treasure Valley town suits a different household. If this list sounds like you, Boise is worth touring in person.
Professionals and city-lovers who want urban life
Students, faculty, and Broncos fans
Outdoor types who want the Greenbelt and foothills at the door
Keep Comparing
Nearby towns
Meridian
A fast-growing city just east of Middleton, home to The Village at Meridian, West Ada schools, and some of the Treasure Valley's newest master-planned neighborhoods.
Ada CountyEagle
An established Ada County city about 10 miles northwest of downtown Boise, where the Boise River splits through town and the Greenbelt links Eagle Island State Park to the city.
Ada CountyStar
A small city on the Boise River between Meridian and Middleton, named for the star on its 1880s schoolhouse, growing fast while keeping its country character.
Ada CountyKuna
A fast-growing Ada County city about 18 miles southwest of downtown Boise, with a young, family-oriented community and one of the metro's strongest growth stories.