Get ready to lean right
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2/16/2017
I have lived in Rexburg for 15 years. I consider myself a political independent - true middle of the road moderate. I lean left on some things and right on others. In Rexburg however this makes me a flaming liberal. The town is >95% GOP and most are far-right GOP. The entire state of Idaho is largely the same.
Politics aside, Rexburg is a very nice place to live - well, if you don't mind a good dose of winter (and I don't mind). There are nice parks and the town is a safe, enjoyable place to call home. Crime rates are very low and in our experience the schools are quite good (even with the state's gross underfunding of public education).
Brigham Young University-Idaho is the largest employer in the county, and it's large (20K+) and growing student body make Rexburg a town of young people. There are many apartments, but the students are well behaved and are enjoyable to have around.
When it comes to diversity, Rexburg is extremely white bread and butter. 90+% of the population is white, though luckily the university attracts some people of color to the community.
Religious diversity is similarly not diverse. Since this small farming town is home to BYU-Idaho, most people in the county are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons - which I am also). Mormons tend to be good neighbors, but sadly there are few people of other religions in the area.
There are abundant nearby natural attractions. Both Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks are an easy day trip from here. There are also world class downhill skiing resorts in the area - Grand Targhee Resort and resorts near Jackson Hole, WY. If you are into hiking, mountain biking, fishing or camping there are also MANY nearby destinations you can reach within an hour or two at the longest.
Humidity here is low; there are few bugs and mosquitos. Summer temperatures seldom reach 90oF, 80s are more common. Winter temps can dip into the negative range, some years frequently. Snowfall can be heavy some years, and when this happens the roads in town get sloppy and icy. The city sadly does a poor job especially in the neighborhoods of keeping the roads cleared.
All in all a nice place to live, but it's a good idea to know what you are getting into before you take the plunge.
This has been an extremely good place to rear children, as long as you take them on trips from time to time so they realize that the world is a more diverse and broader place than just Madison Co, Idaho.
Alan | Rexburg, ID