UPDATE: Check out our new 2023 Best Cities to Live in the U.S. list.
| liv score 657 How We Calculate Our Data |
|
|---|---|
| Civics | 63 |
| Demographics | 31 |
| Economy | 63 |
| Education | 63 |
| Health | 66 |
| Housing | 54 |
| Infrastructure | 34 |
#35. Boise, ID
Tired of crowded spaces? Ready for some quality family time, much of it spent outdoors? Want to advance or start a career in technology, manufacturing or healthcare? Welcome to Boise, where commute times are almost nonexistent, homes are affordable, nature is just out your front door and schools are top-notch. Boise, home to some 226,000 residents, is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country and it’s easy to understand why.
Top Industries and Employers: Healthcare, education and manufacturing technology
Best Coffee Shop: Flying M Coffee, which hosts regular events and craft markets featuring local artists and makers.
Best Local Beer/Brewery: The Mutton Buster brown ale from Payette Brewing Company, which pays homage to the best rodeo event ever: mutton bustin’, during which children ride sheep and try to hang on for dear life.
Must-Have Meal: An ice cream potato from Westside Drive In, which, you may remember, went viral a few years ago. It’s a potato-shaped ball of vanilla ice cream that’s been dusted with cocoa powder.
Best Co-Working Space: Office Evolution Boise, a modern co-working space located right in the heart of downtown.
Best Meetup Spot (When Meeting Up Is a Thing Again): Boise residents like to make the most of their surroundings, even at happy hour. You’re likely to find them hitting trails like Hulls Gulch and Harrison Hollow to catch the sunset.
Creative Hub: The Treefort Music Festival, an annual five-day celebration featuring more than 400 bands and artists.
Favorite Weekend Activity: Anything outdoors. Mountain biking, fly-fishing, hiking, climbing, trail-running — you name it.
Free Way to Have Fun: Snapping Instagram photos in the Freak Alley Gallery, a massive and colorful mural gallery in downtown Boise.
Local Dream Job: Instructor at Boise Art Glass, a glass studio with hands-on classes that cover all things glass.
Read More:
Why So Many Young People Are Moving to Boise Right Now
24 Hours of Outdoor Adventure That Are Only Possible in Boise
The Cost of Living Diaries: Boise, ID
7 Ways to Taste Boise’s Unique Wine, Beer & Spirits
-Sarah Kuta