Boise, ID Homes and Neighborhoods
Boise is Idaho's capital and largest city, spread along the Boise River where the foothills meet the Treasure Valley. Downtown, Boise State University and the riverside parks all sit close together, and trailheads into the foothills start right at the edge of the neighborhoods. That combination of a lively downtown and open country minutes from your front door is the reason most buyers start their search here.
Boise Homes
Homes here are mostly single-family homes, with some condos, built mostly between the 1970s and the 2010s. Expect mostly three- and four-bedroom homes, most of them about 1,500 to 2,500 sq ft on standard-size lots.
Where you look shapes what you'll find. The North End is one of Boise's oldest neighborhoods, with many homes built in the early 1900s, and the East End is known for its Victorian and Queen Anne houses. The Bench is largely mid-century homes and usually costs less than the North and East Ends, while much of Southeast Boise was built over the last few decades. To narrow things down quickly, browse single-level homes or new construction homes in Boise.
Boise Neighborhoods
Each part of Boise has its own feel, so it's worth deciding where you want to be as much as what you want to buy. The city breaks into six broad areas:
- Northeast Boise: the East End, the historic homes along Warm Springs Avenue, the hillsides toward Table Rock and, farther east, the Barber Valley and Harris Ranch.
- North Boise: the historic North End, with its tree-lined streets, Hyde Park shops and Camel's Back Park, up to the Highlands in the foothills.
- Southeast Boise: South Boise near Boise State, Bown Crossing, the Parkcenter corridor and subdivisions to the south such as Columbia Village.
- The Boise Bench: the raised plateau south of downtown, largely mid-century homes, with views back over the city.
- Northwest Boise: a quieter, suburban part of town between the river and the foothills, along State Street and Hill Road.
- Southwest Boise: neighborhoods west and southwest of the airport, with quick access to I-84.
West Boise, between the Bench and Meridian, takes in the 83704 and 83713 ZIP codes, with neighborhoods such as Cloverdale, Randall Acres, Rustic Acres and Skyline. North of town, Hidden Springs, Dry Creek Ranch and Avimor are master communities set in the foothills.
For a closer look at day-to-day life in each part of town, see our neighborhood guides to Northeast, North, Southeast, Northwest and Southwest Boise, and to the Bench.
The named communities with the most homes in Boise include:
Boise Schools
Most of Boise is in the Boise School District, but parts of west and southwest Boise are in the West Ada School District. A Boise mailing address doesn't decide which district a home is in, and neither do city limits, so check the exact address with the district before you count on a school. Attendance areas can also change. If a particular high school matters to you, start with homes zoned to Boise High, Borah, Capital or Timberline.
Living in Boise
The Boise River Greenbelt is the city's favorite place to get outside: about 25 miles of tree-lined path along both sides of the river, linking riverside parks like Ann Morrison and Julia Davis on the way from Lucky Peak toward Eagle. In summer, floating the river is a local tradition. Above town, the Ridge to Rivers system has more than 190 miles of foothills trails for hiking, running and mountain biking, and Bogus Basin ski area is about 16 road miles up the mountain from downtown.
Downtown has the Basque Block, Boise State games and the Treefort Music Fest every March. Boise is also known for its natural hot water: the homes along Warm Springs Avenue were some of the first in the country heated by geothermal water in the 1890s, and the city's geothermal system also heats dozens of downtown buildings. Nearby, Meridian, Eagle, Garden City and Nampa round out the Treasure Valley.
Questions to Ask Before Making an Offer in Boise
- Which school district serves this address? Confirm it with the Boise or West Ada district, not the listing.
- Is the home in Boise's wildland-urban interface? Homes along the foothills and in the Barber Valley can be in the city's wildfire zone, which has its own rules for building a home, adding on or doing a large remodel. Boise Fire offers free home assessments there.
- Is it near the river or a foothills gulch? Check the flood map and ask whether flood insurance would be required.
- How is the yard watered? Ask whether the home has pressurized irrigation, who provides it and what it costs each year.
- Is it in a historic district? Warm Springs Avenue and Boise's other historic districts have rules for exterior changes.
- Will it be your primary home? Apply for Idaho's homeowner's exemption with the Ada County Assessor after you move in. It doesn't transfer from the seller, and it can noticeably lower your property taxes.
Buying a home in Boise
Finding a home is about more than the listing. Templeton Real Estate can answer questions about the property, the neighborhood and what you should know before making a decision.
Not ready to buy yet? We can help you keep track of the homes and price ranges you care about, so you can see how the market changes over time. Call or text 208.473.2203 or send us a message.
