Boise Bench, ID Homes and Neighborhoods
Locals have called it "the Bench" for well over a century: the raised plateau south of the Boise River that climbs in steps above downtown. It takes in neighborhoods such as Depot Bench, Central Bench, Vista and the streets around Morris Hill, with Boise Airport and the Vista interchange on I-84 at its southern edge. Buyers look here for established mid-century streets close to downtown, Boise State and the airport. This page follows the City of Boise's Central Bench planning area; if you are searching by ZIP code, the 83705 homes for sale page covers much of the same ground.
The Bench is among the more affordable parts of Boise.
The homes
Most of the Bench was built out after World War II, when farmland was subdivided into neighborhoods, so ranch houses and other mid-century homes make up much of what you will see. Homes here are mostly single-family homes, with some condos, built mostly between the 1950s and the 1980s. Expect mostly two- and three-bedroom homes, most of them about 1,000 to 2,000 sq ft on standard-size lots. Pockets of older homes remain, too: the city's history of the Vista neighborhood traces Craftsman bungalows and Tudor Revival houses back to the early 1900s through the 1930s.
The two-bedroom homes reflect the Bench's condos, duplexes and small homes alongside its three-bedroom ranches. If a smaller place is what you need, start with Bench condos and townhomes or a community such as Targee Condos. For a classic Bench house, browse single-family homes and single-level homes, and if you want room for a trailer or boat, homes with RV parking is a useful filter on these larger mid-century lots. Small investors also look at multi-family homes here.
Neighborhoods and landmarks
- Depot Bench: named for the Boise Depot, the 1925 Union Pacific depot on the rim at the south end of Capitol Boulevard. The City of Boise runs it, and the 1927 Platt Gardens beside it are a favorite spot for photos with a view over the city.
- Central Bench: about a square mile bounded by Overland Road, Roosevelt Street, Curtis Road and Alpine Street, with Cassia Park, Franklin Park, the Hillcrest Library and the Orchard Street and Overland Road business corridors.
- Vista: centered on Vista Avenue, the main route between I-84, the airport and downtown, with Shoshone Park and Hillcrest Country Club close by.
- Morris Hill: home to Morris Hill Cemetery, one of the Treasure Valley's oldest, established by the city in 1882 and open for walking tours, and to Morris Hill Park, with a fenced dog park, playground and arboretum.
Nearby, you can compare the Bench with Southeast Boise, Southwest Boise and the rest of Boise.
Schools
The Bench is in the Boise School District. Schools that serve Bench addresses include Hawthorne, Whitney, Hillcrest, Jefferson and Monroe elementary schools, South Junior High and Borah High School, which is the high school most Bench listings name. A few listings name Capital or Boise High instead, and boundaries can change, so check any specific address with the district's attendance zone locator.
Getting around
Vista Avenue, Overland Road, Orchard Street, Curtis Road and Franklin Road connect the Bench to I-84, the airport and downtown in a few minutes, and many streets near the rim look out toward downtown and the foothills. For more on day-to-day life here, see our Boise Bench neighborhood guide.
Questions to ask before you make an offer
- Which schools are assigned to this address? Check the Boise School District's attendance zone locator rather than the listing.
- Does the home have irrigation water through a canal lateral or a ditch, who maintains it, and what are the yearly assessments?
- On a mid-century house, when were the roof, furnace, water heater, electrical panel and sewer line last updated?
- If the lot backs onto a canal or lateral, what easements apply, and has the property had any seepage or flooding?
- How close is the home to the airport flight path, and how does the noise feel at different times of day?
- Are there permits on file for any additions, converted garages or accessory dwelling units?
Local help with Boise Bench real estate
Templeton Real Estate knows the Boise Bench market and can help you make sense of the homes, neighborhoods and prices you are seeing.
If you are planning to sell, we can help you understand what similar homes are selling for and where your property may fit in the market. Call or text 208.473.2203 or send us a message.
