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The bolded is debatable. Boise actually is weird, quirky and has that NW vibe to it. There is a large tech industry, art scene, music scene, liberal citizens, a noted dining scene heavy on Vegan cuisine, etc. Boise is like a cooler, younger and of course much smaller version of Portland without the problems Portland currently has. The positive about the rest of Idaho being more conservative is that Boise, even as it continues to grow and become even more liberal, will never become a mess like Portland is know. Also, the LDS percentage in the Boise area is much lower compared to the rest of the state. The highest LDS percentage is in SE Idaho.
Treefort Music Fest, and indie fest held every March in downtown Boise, has been referred to as Portland's best music fest, was recently ranked one of the best music festivals in the world.
I think to get a proper feel of the Boise vibe, one has to actually live here or vacation here for a few months.
You're right-- it's debatable. But I was mostly talking about the whole state of Idaho, not just Boise and I only brought it up because it's the state's largest city/metro. My brother lived there for 5+ years so I spent plenty of time there and have been all over Idaho.
Tbh, I don't find Boise to be anything close to Seattle or Vancouver-- like at all. Bend, OR? Sure. Portland is, indeed, a mess and it's a good thing Boise isn't there yet, but the city itself is unlike much of the rest of the state. It's tiny purplish dot in a sea of red.
You're right-- it's debatable. But I was mostly talking about the whole state of Idaho, not just Boise and I only brought it up because it's the state's largest city/metro. My brother lived there for 5+ years so I spent plenty of time there and have been all over Idaho.
Tbh, I don't find Boise to be anything close to Seattle or Vancouver-- like at all. Bend, OR? Sure. Portland is, indeed, a mess and it's a good thing Boise isn't there yet, but the city itself is unlike much of the rest of the state. It's tiny purplish dot in a sea of red.
Interesting post. I find Boise almost the perfect size metro. However, cost of living is changing and Boise is catching up with Seattle and Portland with housing prices. These prices may come down due to the upcoming recession but the savings may be slow.
Boise's secret has been out for a while, and it's somewhat unfortunate that hordes of people have rushed in and driven up housing costs. When my brother moved there, houses were 200-300k and finding an apartment was cheap and easy. Now? Houses are 500k+ and it's tough to find a decent 1BR for under $1500. Needless to say he's left the state, and although he misses it, he could not survive there on a teacher's salary. I feel sorry for the folks who have been priced out, but a place like Boise could only stay under the radar for so long...
Boise's secret has been out for a while, and it's somewhat unfortunate that hordes of people have rushed in and driven up housing costs. When my brother moved there, houses were 200-300k and finding an apartment was cheap and easy. Now? Houses are 500k+ and it's tough to find a decent 1BR for under $1500. Needless to say he's left the state, and although he misses it, he could not survive there on a teacher's salary. I feel sorry for the folks who have been priced out, but a place like Boise could only stay under the radar for so long...
agreed , Boise was afforabe 6 years
Yes, agreed. The time to buy in Boise was 5 to 6 years ago. It is all about timing.now.
Isn't Boise considered Austin North now? Or the Seattle of Idaho? Or the San Francisco of Idaho? I know last time I went into the downtown I didn't see any homeless camps, so there is definitely PROGRESS to be made in THAT direction!
Guessing you haven't spend much time in SF. Other than having a lot of buildings and people, they're very different places.
Isn't Boise considered Austin North now? Or the Seattle of Idaho? Or the San Francisco of Idaho? I know last time I went into the downtown I didn't see any homeless camps, so there is definitely PROGRESS to be made in THAT direction!
I really like Boise.
It cracks me up when people call it the 'Seattle, Portland, Austin, SF of Idaho'. I grew up in Idaho. There is nowhere in Idaho like those cities. The Seattle metro population alone is twice the number of people Idaho has in the entire state. Boise's downtown is the size of a neighborhood in these cities, and I'm not saying that as a dig. It's just funny to say the traffic, environment, or living conditions are similar. Boise is comparable to Spokane, Reno, and maybe SLC (which is a lot larger as well). That's about it.
Living in North Idaho as a kid, we always considered the area a mix of the PNW and Mountain West. It's a hybrid state IMO. It does have cultural and political similarities to eastern Oregon and Washington, as well as parts of Montana, Wyoming, and Utah.
I don't view Idaho as the Pacific Northwest. I reserve that to Washington and Oregon and maybe far Northern California. To me Idaho is what is referred to as "The Intermountain West" such as Montana, Wyoming and Utah.
Agreed, except for the panhandle. Turn on your tv in Sand Point or even Lewiston you will get Spokane news.
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