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The Boise Valley: at a glance

Download the Boise Valley at a Glance PDF
Download the Boise Valley Brochure PDF

  • The greater Boise Valley is comprised of the following fast-growing communities: Boise, Meridian, Nampa, Eagle, Star, Emmett, Garden City, and Caldwell.
  • Total Population within a 45-minute draw area: 632,000
  • Average Age: 33.1 years
  • Average Commute Time: 18 minutes
  • Forbes, Wall Street Journal and Inc. Magazine rate Boise as one of the best places in the US to live and work.
  • Money magazine rates the Boise Valley as one of the best places to live in the U.S.
  • National Geographic Adventure says the Boise Valley is one of the Top 31 Best Live & Play Towns.
  • The Boise Valley has a workforce of more than 280,000. Nearly 110,000 of the workforce are degreed workers.
  • Workforce within a 45-minute draw area: 330,000
  • The overall cost of doing business is nearly a third lower than in California or Washington.
  • The cost of living is 96 percent of the national average, and the average cost of a home in the boise Valley is approximately $170,000 compared to a national average of $226,000.
  • The Boise Valley is located 430 miles from the seaport terminal of Portland, Oregon; 384 miles south of Spokane, Washington; and 360 miles northwest of Salt Lake City, Utah.
  • The airport serves more than 3 million people a year and is less than five miles from downtown Boise.
  • Idaho Northern & Pacific Railroad (INPR) provides freight service over four branch lines in southwestern Idaho and northeastern Oregon.
  • There have been more patents generated in the Boise Valley than any other region in the country
  • Boise and Nampa, Idaho, are ranked as the most secure locations to live in the United States among large metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or greater. (Source: Third Annual Most Secure U.S. Places to Live rankings from Farmers Insurance Group of Companies)
  • According to the National Census Bureau, Idaho is among the top five fastest growing states in the nation.

"The University of Idaho and Washington State University have the 5th largest food science program in the nation. Our state has a wealth of research, education and employee-training programs that are readily available for food processing companies that may wish to locate here."

Jeff Kronenberg, Food Processing Specialist, School of Food Science, U of I Cooperative Extension and Idaho TechHelp