Trendy Boise Neighborhoods
When people are relocating to Boise, the biggest decision they make is to choose the best Boise neighborhood for their particular circumstances. Sometimes the most important factor in choosing a Boise home is the length of the commute, or the quality of the schools, but for many people its the overall vibe of the neighborhood and they want to know where the trendy Boise neighborhoods are. If being in the coolest parts of Boise is your goal, you’ve found the right spot to get all the info you need!
Boise’s Trendiest Neighborhoods
From the coolest Boise houses, to the best of Boise outdoor amenities and city nightlife, there’s a reason these four areas are in high demand!
The Boise North End
So many people hear about The North End of Boise before they even move here. In fact, one client I spoke with moved to Boise after seeing news coverage of Boise’s Harrison Boulevard Halloween celebration (more on that later). They figured it MUST be a cool place to live based solely on that one key feature.
The North End of Boise is iconic and it’s in very high demand. Because homes are limited to what is existing in this area, and there is no new construction, homes for sale in the North End of Boise go very fast and often at a premium.
So what makes The North End so special? The homes in this area are older and have charm that can only be achieved by blending older styles with new, updated conveniences. Historic preservation is key and the neighborhood association in these areas works hard to maintain a community feel with the charm of an older era. Sidewalks and front porches are common and residents of this area love being close enough to bike to downtown for dinner, or catch the Boise Greenbelt for a longer ride.
Historic Hyde Park is a popular destination in the North End as well, with restaurants, an ice cream shop and shopping lining a stretch of 13th street.
And of course Harrison Boulevard. With a tree lined boulevard and lamp posts on every corner, this area is a Boise favorite. Homes along this street range from mansions of past decades in all styles, to smaller homes tucked in between. The residents of Harrison Boulevard celebrate Halloween with elaborate yard displays, interactive activities and as every Boise kid knows, full size candy bars are common. This stretch of the North End gets record traffic every October 31st.
Warm Springs Avenue Area
Just around the corner from Boise State University, is Warm Springs Avenue, one of Boise’s most famous (and oldest) streets. The first home was built on Warm Springs Avenue in 1870 and homes today are a mix of Colonial and Tudor style mansions with a few UNIQUE Boise homes thrown into the mix. There’s even a Boise castle along Warm Springs, though it was built in the 2000’s so its not historical at all. A river of geothermal water runs under parts of Warm Springs and many homes use it as a heat source, thus giving the street its name.
Though homes on the main Warm Springs Avenue are not often for sale, the side streets and avenues nearby provide homes with lots of character as well and you’ll find Warm Springs homes for sale there. This area is popular because it is right at the intersection of Boise downtown and the Boise foothills with all that the Boise outdoor scene has to offer. It’s five minutes to downtown and five minutes to the Fort Boise Reserve with numerous biking and hiking trails through the foothills. At the end of Warm Springs Avenue is Warm Springs Golf Course and beyond that you’ll find Lucky Peak Reservoir, a popular boating destination.
Homes in this area are a mix of restored colonial or mid century modern, with less well kept homes in their original state tucked right up against them. Since this area is landlocked (similar to the North End), you won’t find many new homes being built, though there are a few new neighborhoods farther east on Warm Springs.
The Warm Springs area is so special because of the historical significance, the proximity to downtown and the easy access to the trail system.
Boise Bench
The Boise Bench is one of the newest areas to earn the trendy Boise neighborhoods award. After years of just being an older area of Boise, it’s getting a revamp recently. Several new trendy Boise businesses, like The STIL Ice Cream shop, have opened new locations in this area. Homes are being scooped up for their mid-century modern charm and renovated and restored.
The Boise Bench gets its name from its location on a ridge up above the Boise downtown, which means it’s an easy commute into downtown for work or for the weekend scene. As is common in older areas of a city, you'll find all kinds of homes lining a single street, from beautifully restored to those in need of some TLC. But the good news is, that provides lots of opportunities for those who love a good fixer upper.
The crowning jewel of the Boise Bench is the Boise Train Depot, which up until 1997 was a functioning train depot, but is now an event space popular for weddings and community events. The building is surrounded by the Platt Gardens, a gorgeous landscaped park that overlooks Boise downtown with some amazing views.
Harris Ranch in Boise
Our final pick for trendiest neighborhoods in Boise is the Harris Ranch area. This area first started being developed in the late 2000’s and new subdivisions are still being built in this area along with a brand new elementary school. Harris Ranch was built for those who wanted to blend a suburban lifestyle with the Idaho outdoors. Each of the Harris Ranch developments are unique: larger, single family homes with yards; townhouses; condos; and even a few apartment complexes. But all of them have in common the convenience of access to the foothills and Boise River recreation areas, but just 10 minutes from downtown. It’s also just minutes from Lucky Peak reservoir.
Harris Ranch is also big on amenities with neighborhoods including swimming pools, workout areas, parks and gathering spots for its residents. These amenities and the quality of schools in the area make this area popular for families. Most of the existing neighborhoods are nestled against the foothills, but newer developments are going up along the lower foothills, with beautiful views of the Barber Valley below.
Bown Crossing is nearby to Harris Ranch and is an outdoor style mall with numerous restaurants, a few shopping options, a library and a popular candy store.
So there you have it! If you want to find the coolest places to live in Boise, start your home searches in one of the trendy Boise neighborhoods. I can set up searches for you specifically highlighting one or all of these areas, so you can watch for your Boise dream home to come on the market!