Treasure Valley

The Treasure Valley is a vibrant mix of bustling urban centers surrounded by rolling farms and intimate subdivisions with pastoral views. Let's take a look at the four largest and fastest-growing cities.

Boise

Boise is Idaho’s largest city and the third-largest in the Northwest (behind Seattle and Portland). It is the cultural hub of the Treasure Valley, featuring everything from art museums and touring broadway shows, to an eclectic mix of local restaurants and craft breweries. The tradeoff is you’ll generally pay more to live in the city than elsewhere in the valley.

Historic neighborhoods like Boise’s North End and East End are known for their exquisitely restored Craftsman and Victorian homes, surrounded by mature trees. These more expensive neighborhoods are the city’s most walkable and bikeable. They tend to attract people who appreciate the area’s close proximity downtown, the Boise Foothills and other recreation options.

In Southwest Boise, you’ll find mid-century ranch-style stunners and retro 80’s homes set on large lots in quiet, suburban neighborhoods. Southeast Boise residents tend to skew younger – many Boise State University students and young professionals who enjoy the short commute to downtown make their homes here.

Meridian

The secret is out: crowned one of the fastest-growing cities in America, many families have discovered the joys of living in Meridian. This is a family town – entertainment skews towards family-friendly options like a day swimming at Eagle Island State Park or Roaring Springs Water Park, or wandering through The Village, an upscale, European-style mall.

Nampa

Idaho's third-largest city has a lot going on – picturesque parks, easy access to public lands for recreating, and a quaint downtown known for great antiquing. Not to be missed, Nampa offers residents a world-class 140,000 square foot Rec Center (with six pools!). The nearby Ford Idaho Center attracts national headliners, monster truck rallies, the famous Snake River Stampede, and everything in between. New shopping centers and restaurants have also sprung up in the southern part of the city, adding to the area's appeal.

Eagle

Offering many great amenities of a city with a small-town feel, large, private homes on expansive lots are a hallmark of the area. Eagle's historic, two-block downtown still retains some of its original 1800s buildings – and charm. This affluent community also features mouth-watering restaurants like Bacquet’s, often called the best French food to be found in the valley, and Bardenay, a popular Treasure Valley distillery featuring pub fare with an upscale twist.

There are many parks in close proximity, but the crown jewel of Eagle’s park system is Eagle Island State Park, a 10-acre marine park with swimming in the summer and snow tubing in the winter. The West Boise YMCA, the largest in the Treasure Valley, is also a short drive away.