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Living in
Boise.
About
Life in Boise
If you're thinking about moving to Boise, understand that you're not just getting a pleasant place to visit—you're joining a city of nearly 236,000 that's solidly built on tech, manufacturing, and government jobs rather than tourism appeal. Major employers like Micron Technology and Hewlett-Packard anchor the job market, while government and healthcare round out stable employment. The unemployment rate sits at 3.2%, which is genuinely strong, though the cost of living has climbed sharply—median home prices hover around $485,000 and rent averages $1,446 monthly, reflecting the city's popularity over the past decade.
Boise at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
38.6 yrs
Poverty Rate
10.6%
Foreign-Born
7.9%
Broadband Internet
93.7%
of households
Population Growth
+1.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics7.9% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Boise: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Boise, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (17.7%), and 5.1% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
18.5%
of residents
65 and Older
16.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
24.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
31.3%
of households
Married Couples
43.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.28
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 17% above ID average
Rent, home values, and income in Boise
In Boise, rent runs 17% above the ID average, and home values are 16% above the ID average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
46.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
23.2%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
98.4
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,883
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
63.2%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1986
median year built
Vacant Homes
4.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $500,215 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.5 pts below ID average
Unemployment in Boise and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Boise is 0.5 percentage points lower than the ID average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Boise Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Boise City, ID metro area
Commute18.9 min avg
How Boise residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Boise, most residents drive alone to work (68%), and 84% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 4 mi
Boise Air Terminal/Gowen Field (BOI)
Medium hub2.6M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 12% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Boise runs 12% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
288.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
851.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Boise Police Department
Natural DisastersHeavy Snow most common — 6 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
87.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Ada County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Ada County, which includes Boise, the most common type is heavy snow, with 6 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2024 | 16 | Heavy Snow | None reported |
| 2023 | 12 | Heavy Snow | $1.0M |
| 2022 | 7 | Heavy Snow | None reported |
| 2021 | 10 | Heavy Snow | None reported |
| 2020 | 5 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 4 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 2 | Heavy Snow | Not estimated |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
19 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Ada County, county-wide
Air Quality42 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Ada County, which includes Boise, is typically good — 270 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
42
Good Days
270
per year
Moderate Days
95
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Ada County, county-wide
Climate88°F summers, 27°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Boise has warm summers (avg high 88°F) and cold winters (avg low 27°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
63°/41°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
88°/59°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
65°/42°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
41°/27°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
11.5"
Annual Snowfall
17.6"
Hot Days/Year
55
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
108
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
89
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39°F | 26°F | 1.41" |
| Feb | 46°F | 29°F | 1.00" |
| Mar | 56°F | 35°F | 1.33" |
| Apr | 62°F | 40°F | 1.23" |
| May | 72°F | 48°F | 1.45" |
| Jun | 81°F | 54°F | 0.75" |
| Jul | 93°F | 62°F | 0.21" |
| Aug | 91°F | 61°F | 0.17" |
| Sep | 80°F | 53°F | 0.43" |
| Oct | 65°F | 42°F | 0.81" |
| Nov | 49°F | 32°F | 1.18" |
| Dec | 39°F | 25°F | 1.54" |
Healthcare6 hospitals, avg 4.3/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Boise
Boise has 6 hospitals, averaging 4.3 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
6
within city limits
Uninsured
7.1%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.3 / 5
St Luke's Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
- Main campus: St Luke'S Regional Medical Center · 190 East Bannock Street
- Outpatient center: St. Luke's Clinic – Family Medicine: Boise · 701 E Parkcenter Blvd, Boise
- Hospital campus: St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Hospital · 600 N Robbins Rd, Boise
Boise VA Medical Center
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available
Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Treasure Valley Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Cottonwood Creek Behavioral Hospital
Psychiatric · 6.5 mi away · Meridian
Saint Alphonsus Medical Center - Nampa
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 14.5 mi away · Nampa
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs. Campus locations © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Education17.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Boise
Boise's student/teacher ratio is 17.3:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 47.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
73
within city limits
Private Schools
23
within city limits
College Degree Rate
47.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Boise
Public · 4-year · 17,674 students · in-state tuition $9,364 · 62% graduate · median earnings $60,091 (10 yrs after entry)
Eagle Gate College-Boise Campus
Private for-profit · 4-year · 594 students · in-state tuition $19,506 · median earnings $41,796 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 6,459 students · in-state tuition $3,854 · 28% graduate · median earnings $46,214 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument, 85 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Boise
Boise has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument (85 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument
National Monument
85 mi awayPublic Libraries in Boise
Boise Public
715 S Capitol Blvd, Boise
Boise Public - Bown Crossing Branch
2153 E. Riverwalk Dr., Boise
Boise Public-Cole And Ustick Branch
7557 W Ustick Rd, Boise
Boise Public-Collister Branch
4724 W State St, Boise
Boise Public-Hillcrest Branch
5246 W Overland Rd, Boise
Compare Boise
Popular side-by-side matchups
Cities Near Boise
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Boise?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Boise FAQ
Is Boise, Idaho affordable?⌄
Boise's median rent is $1,446/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $83,904/year. Median home value is $484,800.
Is Boise, Idaho safe?⌄
Boise's violent crime rate was 289 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 851 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Boise, Idaho?⌄
Boise has an unemployment rate of 3.2%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Boise, Idaho?⌄
The cost of living in Boise is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,446/month and median household income is $83,904/year. The median home value is $484,800. About 47% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Boise, Idaho?⌄
The average commute in Boise is 19 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from