Awkward Stage
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12/28/2016
Boise has hit an awkward stage of development. We don't have the amenities of big cities, but the cost of living and the homelessness/drug use that is more common in big cities has been hitting us harder and harder each year. Public transit is a wreck. Urban sprawl runs rampant. The cost of living is going up rapidly (especially in regards to housing), but wages are not keeping up. Those who are transferring from larger cities may find it more affordable, but we are very expensive compared to cities of similar size.
I have a Bachelor's degree and a graduate-level certification in my field and I barely make 30k/year. Our high unemployment rate is only because so many call-centers (low wage hell houses) are based here. We are a "Right to work" state which keeps wages low. There isn't a lot of room to grow for those who are relatively new to the job market (I finished undergrad in 2009). Investment into public education pitiful. There are some great schools in Boise if you already can afford to live in a wealthier area or get into a charter school. There is no public pre-k education to speak of. Investment into public anything is pretty low, in fact. Idaho is very conservative, but these "low taxes" only serve to reinforce the gap between our "haves" and "have nots."
The outdoors are nice when there isn't an inversion or a fire. But both of these things make this place rough for those with sensitivities from late spring to early fall.
The city is clean for the most part and there are a lot of great public events during the nicer months. It's just a rough place to build from if you aren't already a professional or from an upper-middle class background or higher.
Mel | Boise City, ID