Justin Murillo, REALTOR® | Amherst Madison
Where to live
The short version
The best neighborhoods in Boise depend on how you want your weekday to go. For walkability, the North End. For more house close to downtown, the Bench. For newer homes and big parks, Meridian. For bigger lots, Eagle. Here are the best areas to live in Boise and the Treasure Valley on one map, with the trade-offs.
Map
Hover an area for a quick look. Click or tap it for the details.
Drive times are to downtown Boise, off-peak, and approximate. Text me for current prices in any area.
| Area | Best for | Typical homes | Drive to downtown |
|---|---|---|---|
| North End | Walking to dinner and downtown | early 1900s to 1940s bungalows and craftsman homes | 5 min |
| East End | Trail access and historic homes | Historic homes on Warm Springs Avenue | 5 min |
| Boise Foothills | Views and space close to town | Larger, newer homes on hillside lots | 10 to 15 min |
| Downtown Boise | Lock-and-leave living | Condos, lofts, and townhomes | 0 to 5 min |
| The Bench | More house for the money, close in | 1950s to 1970s ranch homes | 10 min |
| Southeast Boise | Greenbelt access | Older homes near Broadway, newer builds farther east | 10 to 15 min |
| Northwest Boise | A quieter feel inside Boise | Established homes on larger lots | 15 min |
| West Boise | Central to the whole valley | 1970s to 1990s homes | 15 min |
| Southwest Boise | More space for the money | 1960s to 1970s subdivisions and newer builds | 20 min |
| Meridian | Newer homes and big parks | 2000s and newer subdivisions | 20 to 25 min |
| Eagle | Space and a higher-end feel | Larger lots, custom and newer homes | 20 to 25 min |
| Star | New construction and a small-town pace | New subdivisions | 30 min |
| Kuna | Stretching your budget | Newer subdivisions and acreage | 30 to 35 min |
| Nampa | A budget with city services | Mixed older and newer homes | 25 to 30 min |
Boise's most walkable neighborhood. Tree-lined streets, early 1900s to 1940s bungalows, and Hyde Park's coffee shops and restaurants a few blocks away. Camel's Back Park and the foothills trails sit at the top of the neighborhood.
Best for: walking to dinner, downtown, and the trails.
Watch for: older homes need upkeep, lots are small, and prices sit near the top of the market.
The historic homes along Warm Springs Avenue, some still heated by Boise's geothermal water, with Table Rock and the foothills right behind them. Quieter than the North End and just as close to downtown.
Best for: trail access and historic homes.
Watch for: prices, and historic district rules on exterior changes.
Neighborhoods like the Highlands climb into the hills north of the city, many with views across the valley. Homes tend to be larger and newer, on bigger or hillside lots.
Best for: views and space without leaving Boise.
Watch for: steep driveways in winter and wildfire season in late summer.
Condos, lofts, and townhomes within walking distance of restaurants, the Capitol, BoDo, and Boise State.
Best for: lock-and-leave living and walking everywhere.
Watch for: HOA fees, and little to no yard.
The Bench sits on a raised terrace south of downtown. Mostly 1950s to 1970s ranch homes with full-size yards, 10 minutes from downtown and close to the airport.
Best for: more house and yard for the money, close in.
Watch for: it's a big area. Some streets are quiet, others sit on busy corridors. I'll show you which is which.
Quiet streets near the Greenbelt and Boise State, plus Barber Valley and Harris Ranch farther east along the river. Older homes near Broadway, newer builds out east.
Best for: Greenbelt access and a mix of older and newer homes.
Watch for: the far east end is a longer drive to the west side of the valley.
Collister, Pierce Park, and the neighborhoods between the river and the foothills. Larger lots, mature trees, and a quieter feel, about 15 minutes from downtown.
Best for: space and quiet inside Boise city limits.
Watch for: fewer walkable shops and restaurants nearby.
Established neighborhoods from the 1970s through the 1990s, close to Boise Towne Square and the Connector. Central to both ends of the valley, and usually priced below the North End and East End.
Best for: easy access to shopping and the rest of the valley.
Watch for: busy arterials like Fairview and Ustick.
A mix of 1960s and 1970s subdivisions and newer builds south of I-84, often with more square footage for the price than closer-in Boise.
Best for: more space for the money with a Boise address.
Watch for: a longer drive downtown and fewer services nearby.
Idaho's second-largest city. Newer subdivisions, the West Ada School District, and shopping at The Village. Most daily errands are a few minutes from home.
Best for: newer homes, big parks, and easy errands.
Watch for: Eagle Road and I-84 traffic at rush hour.
Larger lots, a small walkable downtown, and a quieter, higher-end feel, with the Boise River along the south side of town.
Best for: space and a higher-end feel close to Boise.
Watch for: prices are among the highest in the valley.
A small town about 10 minutes west of Eagle, with a lot of the valley's new construction.
Best for: a newer home at a lower price than Eagle next door.
Watch for: roads and services are still catching up.
South of Meridian, with farmland views, newer subdivisions, and some of the lowest prices in Ada County.
Best for: getting the most house for your budget.
Watch for: a drive of 30 minutes or more to downtown Boise.
Idaho's third-largest city, in Canyon County, about 25 minutes west of Boise. Budget-friendly homes and a historic downtown.
Best for: stretching a budget without giving up city services.
Watch for: the I-84 commute into Boise.
The Treasure Valley is one metro stretched along I-84, so your commute is part of the decision. East Boise to Meridian can take 40 minutes at rush hour. The foothills bring views, along with steeper winter driveways and wildfire smoke in August.
My job is matching your budget to the right trade-off: less square footage for walkability, a longer drive for an acre, or a shorter commute for the school you want.
It depends on what you want day to day. The North End is the most walkable, the Bench gives you more house close to downtown, and the Boise Foothills have the views. Outside Boise, Meridian is mostly newer subdivisions.
Kuna and Nampa usually offer the lowest prices in the valley. Inside Boise, the Bench and Southwest Boise tend to give you the most house for the money.
No. Meridian is its own city, directly west of Boise and about 20 to 25 minutes from downtown. Most people treat the whole Treasure Valley as one metro.
Both are historic and close to downtown. The North End has more homes, more shops, and more foot traffic. The East End is smaller and quieter, with trailheads right behind it.
Start with your commute and budget. The North End and the East End are walkable and close to downtown, the Bench and Southwest Boise give you more house for the money, and Meridian and Eagle have newer homes and bigger lots. Text me your budget and I'll narrow it down.
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Send your budget and moving date and I will come back with two or three neighborhoods worth a real look.