Boise, ID downtown

2021 Top 100 Best Places to Live In America Sponsored by:

UPDATE: Check out our new 2023 Best Cities to Live in the U.S. list.

liv score
712
How We Calculate Our Data
Civics 61
Demographics 32
Economy 49
Education 65
Health 70
Housing 47
Infrastructure 50

#24. Boise, ID

Home to the world-famous “Smurf Turf” blue football field at Boise State, Boise, ID is a lively and outdoorsy college town nestled against the foothills in southwestern Idaho. This city, which has a population of some 240,000 residents, has all the amenities of a charming mountain town — without the steep price. Boise continues to be relatively affordable and offers a little something for everyone, whether that’s fly-fishing, attending a Division 1 college football game, skiing or eating at a James Beard-nominated restaurant — or, more likely, all of the above!

Top Colleges/Universities: Boise State University

Top Industries & Employers: St. Luke’s Health System, Boise State University, Micron Technology Inc. and nearby Mountain Home Air Force Base are some of the region’s largest employers.

Weekend Plans: Hit up the Boise Farmers Market or the Capital City Public Market, then go for a hike at one of the many easy-to-access trailheads a few minutes from downtown like Hulls Gulch or Three Bears.

Favorite Place to Feast: Chandlers Steakhouse, a special occasion restaurant known for its steaks, seafood and chocolate souffle. 

Beloved Beverage: The huckleberry milkshake at Fanci Freez, which also offers an adventurous huckleberry burger.

Outdoorsy Activity: Skiing, mountain biking, tubing, climbing or hiking at Bogus Basin, a nonprofit mountain adventure center that hosts summer concerts, free community events and programs for kids.

Rooftop Bar: Reef, which has a fun atmosphere and lots of live music, or Zee’s Rooftop, which has some of the best views in town.

Why Your Pet Will Love It, Too: The team at dog-friendly hangout Meriwether Cider Co. loves dogs so much they created their own @dogsofmeriwether Instagram account to feature all the precious pooches who relax with their humans in the cidery’s taproom. 

Remote Work Perk: If you need a change of scenery or you just want to connect with remote workers and entrepreneurs, check out Wheelhouse Boise, a beautifully designed modern coworking space that’s right downtown.

One More Thing … If you’ve ever bought groceries from Albertsons, you can thank Boise. Longtime Boise businessman Joe Albertson founded the chain.

– Sarah Kuta

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