More new neighbors coming? Boise makes yet another list of best U.S. cities

You already know lots of people are moving to Boise. But a new list is validating their decision — and could spark even more people to move.

The city made another top-10 list Tuesday, this time as one of the best cities in the U.S. to “move to right now.”

Housing website Curbed ranked Boise among the most livable places in the country in its new rankings. The site analyzed a city’s “walkability, park access, diversity, housing costs, job opportunities, and more” to come up with their top 10.

“We ended up with a list of 10 intriguing alternatives to unaffordable coastal metros,” Curbed said. “No matter your reasons for relocating, moving to an entirely new place is complicated, so here, we offer a guide both to the highlights of your potential new city and to the ways it might change in the months and years after you move in.”

Boise made the cut because of its beauty and “explosive economy,” Curbed said.

“Boasting a beautiful setting — nestled in the high desert, bisected by the Boise River, and green enough to be called the City of Trees — Idaho’s largest city doesn’t need anything, or anybody, to sell itself,” Curbed said.

It points out that the city has already gained national attention as a relocation destination, especially for Californians. To be blunt, Curbed said “Boise has blown up.” And it has. The housing site reported that between 2013 and 2018, the population grew by more than 81,000 people.

“But the city’s explosive economy, especially in tech and health care, have made it a destination for coastal urbanites contemplating a big move,” Curbed said.

Curbed also said there are classics you can’t miss in Boise: The North End, “filled with historic grandeur,” as well as the Basque Block, Egyptian Theatre and nearby mountain town Horseshoe Bend.

It’s also one of the most affordable places to live on the list. The website lists the median rent for a two-bedroom apartment at $950, which is among the cheapest for the list of cities.

Boise was joined on the list by other cities across the country. In the Mountain West, Provo, Utah, also made the cut.

“It’s not a stretch to call Provo an emerging Austin of the Mountain West,” Curbed said. “The small city south of Salt Lake is a rising tech center, part of Utah’s Silicon Slopes scene that’s the envy of smaller cities across the country.”

This story was originally published February 12, 2020 at 12:48 PM with the headline "More new neighbors coming? Boise makes yet another list of best U.S. cities."