A city in conservative Idaho is bracing for an influx of hipsters after being branded as the one of America’s ‘coolest’.
Boise has been attracting notice due to a regeneration of sorts in the last few years, largely driven by the expansion of tech jobs in the area.
Increasingly, the city of 237,000 has been drawing in cosmopolitan crowds keen to indulge in its small town charm, while still being able to sip on a matcha latte.
As a university town, Idaho’s capital has always attracted a youthful crowd. But between 2020 and 2023, its population has exploded by 54,000 people.
The plethora of bars and restaurants springing up as a result has now seen the city lauded as, ‘the coolest city in the Pacific Northwest’ by the Wall Street Journal.
In a review of Boise, the outlet highlighted the newly opened Avery hotel and restaurant launched by chef Cal Elliott, who has moved back to his home state following following success in Manhattan.
Several eateries have been honored with prestigious culinary awards, including Kin which notched a James Beard award last year for its take on fine dining.
A popular craft beer scene, a choice of wineries and regular farmers markets are increasingly drawing a metropolitan crowd as the city moves away from its reputation as a dive-bar town.
Growth has been so rapid that the city was recently one of ten new American boomtowns.
But as well as urban delights, Boise is blessed with a proximity to stunning natural beauty which residents can enjoy via the hundreds of miles’ worth of trails accessible by a short drive from downtown.
The 25 mile Greenbelt, a paved road along side the Boise River also affords stunning waterside walks.
Meanwhile the city’s parks and walkable layout mean it is perfect for those with an active lifestyle.
The city was also found to be the third best run in the US, according to research by Wallethub.
The study also highlighted the relatively low crime rates and the potential growth in the area.
Boise had the third-lowest long-term outstanding government debt per capita, at $1,062 as well as healthy forecasts for the growth rate of businesses and house prices.
In addition, it is a very safe city, with the fourth-lowest property crime rate and 10th-lowest violent crime rate in the country.
It has the fewest motor vehicle fatalities per capita and a highly ranked public hospital system.
Traffic is rarely a problem and the city enjoys a low rate of employment.
However, property prices are now starting to reflect the increased demand and increased by 3.2 percent in the year to August according to Redfin.
Homes sold for a median price of $490,000 in August, around $60,000 more than the national average.
Whilst the city skews blue with Democrats sitting on the council, it sits in the deep red state of Idaho.
The state’s Republican reputation is so strong that conservatives in neighboring Oregon have launched a movement to secede from the state and join Idaho.