What is the Best Boise Neighborhood For You?
Boise North End
The Boise North End is one of the most sought after Boise neighborhoods. Full of historic charm and just minutes from downtown, it's reminiscent of neighborhoods of the past with gridded streets, large, mature trees, beautiful front porches and lots of great walking paths. In the North End of Boise you'll find beautifully restored homes, historic mansions, unrestored original dwellings and everything in between. It's what gives it such charm!
The Boise North End is great for those who love being close to the benefits of downtown, but also want to be close to parks and have a neighborhood feel. It's one of the most expensive real estate areas in the Treasure Valley.
The Boise North End runs just north of State street between Fort & 28th.
Boise Downtown
If you want to be right in the heart of the city, amongst the hustle and bustle, then Downtown Boise is for you! Downtown Boise offers unique dining, great nightlife, and lots of locally owned, eclectic gift shops. It's also home to Boise State University, a growing campus home to 26,000 students. Bronco game days are a big deal in Boise's Downtown and you'll see blue and orange everywhere!
Downtown Boise residences are growing with the addition of several new condo and apartment complexes. You'll also find small, charming homes along the outskirts of Boise Downtown, many of which have been renovated. Prices range wildly in this area and you'll find a mix of new and old along the same street. You'll also find Julia Davis and Ann Morrison parks in Downtown Boise. As two of the largest parks in the city, they are home to several music and art festivals.
Downtown Boise is great for those who want to be in the heart of it all and like to have lots of options for entertainment and dining within walking distance. It's got a great trendy vibe similar to Portland and Seattle and is known for its breweries and coffee shops.
Downtown Boise is defined as the business district and outlying neighborhoods in the heart of the city.
East Boise / Harris Ranch
Just east of downtown and tucked up next to Boise State University is the start of East Boise. There are two distinct areas of East Boise, the area known as Southeast Boise and the area known as North East Boise.
Southeast Boise is home to the popular Harris Ranch neighborhood. Here you'll find a planned community of homes, along with great shopping and dining destinations like the popular Bown Crossing. Southeast Boise provides easy access to the Boise Greenbelt, a 25-mile path that follows the Boise River through the city. Homes in the Harris Ranch area are a bit more expensive than other areas of the city, but there are some well established neighborhoods outside of Harris Ranch that are still considered Southeast Boise.
Northeast Boise surrounds one of Idaho's largest employers, Micron Technology. There is a mix of newer communities and older homes in this area, but all provide easy access to the freeway and Boise's outdoor recreation.
East Boise is great for those commuting to Boise's downtown area and those who want to enjoy the city's outdoor recreation frequently. The Boise Shakespeare Festival and Idaho Botanical Garden are nearby for additional entertainment, but department store shopping requires a bit of a drive.
East Boise starts at Boise State University and ends at Micron Technology and is bordered by the Boise River on one side and Federal Way on the other.
Foothills
Just above the Boise North End are the Boise Foothills. Here you'll find new and renovated homes tucked amongst original builds. With rolling hills and easy access to the hiking and biking trails of the foothills, this is one of the pricier neighborhoods in Boise. At the top of the foothills are manions with spectacular views, but all the way down to the city are cul de sacs and streets with glimpses of the city and the wide open spaces of the mountains Boise is tucked up against.
The foothills are a great location for those who love the outdoors and want to spend every evening exploring the beauty of Boise's nearby outdoor adventures.
The Boise foothills are located just above the Boise North End and stretch from --- to Lucky Peak Reservoir.
Hidden Springs
Tucked away in the foothills just 15 minutes from downtown is Hidden Springs. This is a planned community that has its own elementary school, grocery store, post office and dining. It is purposefully secluded from Boise to create a community reminiscent of a small town.
With open area and access to trails and recreation all around, Hidden Springs is great for those who love the outdoors and want a small town feel. It's close to the city, but removed from the city so you can have the best of both worlds.
Hidden Springs is a self-contained community 15 minutes outside of Boise in the foothills.
Boise Bench / West Boise
The Boise Bench is one of the most eclectic areas of Boise. Homes in this area sit along the rim of Boise overlooking the downtown and Garden City area. You'll find a totally different experience street by street with older, established homes tucked into new developments. People love the Boise bench for it's centrally located position as it's easy to get to everything Boise has to offer. Mature landscaping and established neighborhoods along with affordability make the Boise Bench area popular with home buyers.
South Boise moves away from the rim of Boise and out into what was once farmland. There are many newer, popular neighborhoods in South Boise and it is an area that is expanding quickly with new neighborhoods popping up regularly.
West Boise is home to older, mature neighborhoods with homes build in the 90's and 2000's . Lots are generally a bit bigger and trees are a bit taller making for a great place to raise a family. West Boise is tucked up against Meridian so you can enjoy the best of both cities and you are centrally located to almost everything.
The Boise Bench, South Boise and West Boise are great for those who like easy access to shopping centers and lots of dining options. Lots are generally bigger and a bit more affordable than other areas of Boise.
Eagle
Eagle is known for its large homes and Boise River views with all that Boise has to offer to the south and all the nature has to offer to the north. Homes along the river are generally more expensive than those in the outlying areas but most of Eagle offers quick access to the river and the surrounding foothills. The Boise Greenbelt also runs along the river through parts of Eagle making it a great space for outdoor lovers.
The 15-minute commute into Boise from Eagle is easy, making it a great place for those who want to work in the heart of the city and head to a suburban area in the evening. It's nestled right up against Boise, so those new to the area may not even realize they've left Boise.
Eagle is north of Boise and is defined by the Boise River on it's southern edge and the foothills on the north, with Boise tucked up against the eastern edge and Star on the west.
Star
Star's main attraction is a small town vibe with all the advantages of a big city nearby. It's mostly rural with planned neighborhood communities interspersed with farms and open spaces. The city itself is small with just over 6,000 residents, but since it's just outside of Boise you have everything you might need just a short drive away. Homes are affordable and generally newer given the recent growth.
Star is nestled up against the northwestern foothills around the valley and as such provides hiking and biking trails, fishing, water sports and more just minutes away. Star is also home to several wineries. It's a great location for those who prefer rural life and enjoying Idaho's nature while still being close to the big city.
Star is just 20 minutes from Boise and a short drive from Eagle.
Meridian
Originally farmland up until the early 2000's, Meridian has exploded in growth in the last 20 years. It's a suburban oasis composed primarily of new homes, in communities with all the amenities. It's also home to many of the nation's chain restaurants and the new Meridian Village, which is an outdoor mall with shopping, dining and a large luxury movie theater.
In Meridian there are parks every few miles, large new schools and tons of family entertainment like Roaring Springs Water Park, Wahooz Family Fun Zone, Meridian Speedway and public swimming pools and libraries.
Meridian is nestled between West Boise and Nampa.
Kuna
Kuna is small town Idaho living with the advantages of being nestled up against Idaho's largest city. Kuna was originally farmland but has recently seen lots of growth with neighborhoods being built all around. In Kuna, you can choose an older home with lots of land, or settle into one of the many neighborhoods.
Kuna is great for those who want the small town feel without missing out on any of the big city shopping and events. The city does a great job at making it feel small with the main street decorated at Christmas and 4th of July and the local restaurant sign boards welcoming to new babies and offering congratulations to new couples. It's truly the best of both worlds in Kuna.
Kuna is 20 minutes south of Boise.