Spend a few days in Boise and it’s easy to understand why it has topped lists for the past few years as one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation. The city’s low cost of living, an impressive array of breweries and restaurants, and diverse recreation activities are just a handful of reasons Boise has dominated national “best of” lists for the last decade. They’re also why people of all ages are choosing to call Boise home.

And with the Boise metro population projected to surpass one million residents by 2040, it’s worth taking a look at who’s migrating to the area. Where are they moving from, and what can our projected population growth tell us about the Treasure Valley’s future?

Metro Boise, Idaho Population

Boise

241,590

Every city worth its salt has a music festival, and lucky for us, Boise is no different.

Each spring, Boise hosts Treefort Music Fest, a five-day, all-ages festival featuring more than 400 local, national and international bands playing at venues small and large throughout downtown.

But Treefort 2020 is much more than just a music festival. Since its inception in 2012, the grassroots festival has grown in size, popularity and scope to include a number of other “forts,” each with diverse programming, including Yogafort, Foodfort, Alefort, Comedyfort, Hackfort (the festival’s tech-themed fort), Storyfort and Filmfort, to name a few.

With the Treefort schedule running almost around the clock at bars, churches, restaurants, even the local

Boise is well known for its below-average crime rate when compared to cities of similar size – it’s one important reason factoring into people’s decisions to move here. In fact, the crime rate in Boise has been steadily declining for 25 years.

Yet when moving to a new neighborhood, it’s natural to worry about the unknowns, and one of those unknowns is safety. What is the crime rate in Boise? How does it compare to nearby cities, like Eagle and Meridian? Where do you even begin finding that information? And how do you know if the data is current and reliable?

Below, we’ll give you the resources to help you do your due diligence and ensure that your next neighborhood is everything you want it to be, including safe.

Ada County Crime Map

If

Boise’s skyline seems to get an update every few months as the city continues to boom. Some of the most impressive buildings have been around for decades, while others are new to the downtown city view. Boise’s tallest buildings include icons from the 20s and 30s with some stunning newcomers on the scene.

1. Eighth & Main

In 1987, a devastating fire destroyed the Eastman Building that had sat at 8th and Main Streets in Downtown Boise for 82 years. After decades of disuse, the lot became known as “the hole” to locals, gaining even more notoriety as a failed construction project

Quaint wooden signs greet visitors to this charming neighborhood known for its mature trees, modest brick homes and 1950s bungalows.

Boise's Sunset Neighborhood signs feature a family in silhouette walking their dog into a colorful sunset. They are a promise that deliver: Sunset is full of outdoorsy families eager to take advantage of the diverse activities the area has to offer.

This is a small, tight-knit neighborhood of do-ers: hikers, walkers, runners, gardeners, golfers and most predominantly, bikers.

Nestled up against the foothills, the neighborhood has direct access to mountain biking trails via the Hillside to Hollow Reserve – a 260-acre protected open space in the central foothills. Serious road cyclists also have access to the

As more individuals seek to live near where they work, Downtown Boise has flourished into a sought-after residential neighborhood. In addition to several commercial projects in the works, almost 1,300 new multi-family housing units are planned for downtown and just to its south, along the Boise River.

In keeping with current trends and popular demand, many of these units will be part of mixed-use developments. Multi-family housing is planned above the ground-level commercial spaces that make urban neighborhoods both vibrant and viable: retail, restaurants, and coffee shops. With that in mind, here are the new Downtown Boise construction projects you should be watching in next few years.

Third and Myrtle

The Third and Myrtle mixed-use

One of Boise’s fastest-growing neighborhoods is Southeast Boise, a flourishing area with enviable access to the greenbelt, river, and the downtown core. One of Boise’s largest and most diverse neighborhoods, Southeast Boise is home to Boise State University and area landmarks such as Barber Park, Bown Crossing, and the Simplot Sports Complex.

The Southeast Boise vibe is one of casual comfort: close-knit neighborhoods look a bit like streets of the past with kids playing in front yards and families walking their dogs. Despite this old-fashioned community feel, the area is also experiencing a rapid renaissance with an influx of shops, restaurants, and attractions as the neighborhood grows. Trendy new brunch spots join established local haunts while

Whether you’re a history buff or not, it’s easy to see why the Old Idaho Penitentiary draws a regular crowd of visitors. When it first began operating in 1872 and throughout its 101-year history as Idaho’s state prison, it was home to some of the West’s most notorious criminals. Its infamous inhabitants included the man dubbed “Idaho’s Jack the Ripper,” the assassin of Idaho’s fourth governor, and even an alleged member of Butch Cassidy’s nefarious gang.

Built of sandstone from the nearby quarry by prisoners’ labor, the Old Pen building is a unique and fascinating sight. It finally closed its doors in December of 1973 after two destructive prisoner riots, and today, the cells, solitary confinement quarters, and gallows room still stand as a

Autumn in Boise is a beautiful time of year and puts the local community into a festive spirit. Harvest festivals, Oktoberfests, Halloween Trick-or-Treating, pumpkin patches, corn mazes, and more are on the calendar throughout the Treasure Valley. We've rounded up the best of the fall events and listed them here for you.

The Haunted World

Caldwell, Sep 13-Oct 31 (closed Sundays)

Make no bones about it, the Haunted World in Caldwell is Idaho’s scariest haunted house and Halloween attraction. This attraction is both indoor and outdoor and will treat you to nearly two hours or nightmarish fear. Learn more.

The Farmstead Corn Maze & Pumpkin Festival

Kuna, Sep 20-Oct 30

The Farmstead in Kuna prides itself on being Idaho’s “original corn

A mixture of old and new, rural and urban, quiet days and entertaining nights, make the Collister neighborhood what it is: an uncommonly versatile community with a bright future.

The Collister Neighborhood is a quintessentially Boisean area, where urbanity and old school rural practices mesh to create a happy medium. This established and highly walkable neighborhood is known for its family-friendliness; on any given night, you’re likely to see residents walking their dog, tending their gardens, sipping iced tea on their front porches, or strolling the sidewalks with their kids.

This is an area where residents put down roots and spend weekends brunching with friends, holidays with family, and summers at the local pool with the kids.

One of