Buzz About Boise: February 2019

There's so much buzz circulating about Boise, it can be hard to keep track of it all. But don't worry, we've got you covered. This is a quick expert from our monthly recap designed to convey what "all the buzz about Boise" is really about. Perfect for life-long Boiseans, newcomers, potential relocators and out-of-state investors alike - there is something for everyone...

2019’s Best State Capitals to Live in Source: WalletHub Oftentimes state capitals are thriving cities that offer a lot of economic and cultural value; however that's certainly not always the case. To thoroughly analyze this, WalletHub compared all 50 capitals across 54 key indicators (affordability, economic well-being, quality of education and health, and quality of life). Their data set ranges from cost of living to number of attractions to the quality of their K–12 school-system. Check out the full article (packed with infographics) to learn how Boise fared (spoiler alert: Boise rocks). ------------------------------- Boise Housing Rents are High. Here’s How Much They've Increased. Source: Idaho Statesman While Boise is rated among the best capitals to live in, our rent prices have skyrocketed. According toApartmentguide.com, over the course of 2018, rental costs in Boise increased at one of the nation’s highest clips. Boise is listed as being among the top five cities that experienced the largest percentage increase over 2018. The cost of an average one-bedroom apartment increased 14.4% and now rents for $1,062 per month. Check out the full article for all the details. ------------------------------- Boise Offers 2nd "Most Relaxing Airport" in the United States Source: Travel Channel  We've all been there. Airport frustration: missed connections, late-night cancellations, overcrowded terminals... all can send stress levels through the roof. Recently, InsureMyTrip identified the top 10 best U.S. airports. The airports on this list are complimented by their ability to make travelers feel the most relaxed, and lead the way with fewest flight delays and cancellations. Our beloved BOI made the top 3! Check out the full list here. ------------------------------- Wowed by Idaho's Cultural Epicenter Source: A Taste of Dawn [ATOD] This colorful (and photo-packed) article perfectly illustrates what so many of us locals experience when we have out-of-town (and I daresay skeptical) friends and family visit us only to discover they not only like but LOVE Boise. As the author writes "Coming to Boise, my knowledge was limited to potatoes, Basque influence, and nice locals. I had no idea that after four short days, I would have the best doughnut I’ve ever had, ride the front of a white water river raft like a boss, swim against the freezing white water tide until my hands went completely numb, or had wine on the verge of greatness." Read the full article here. ------------------------------- Cities with the Best (and Worst) Commutes Source: Haven Life According to this article, compared to 1990 the average American has added a full eight minutes to their daily round-trip commute. That may not sound like much (it didn't to me at first) but for the employee working 50 weeks out of the year, that is almost an extra day and a half spent getting to and from work. Now for us locals, we have all certainly noticed an uptick in traffic congestion over the past decade; however, according to this article we are still faring (comparatively) pretty well. Check out the full article to learn how Boise landed among the top 10 cities (based on shortest commute times) - for Boiseans, our average round-trip time is currently 36.8 minutes. ------------------------------- Idaho Economy Still Growing, Despite Some Treasure Valley Job Losses Source: Idaho Press Tribune Despite the recent announcement of several large-scale job losses, Idaho's economy is still going strong. With a 2.6% unemployment rate (which is substantially lower than the national average of 3.7%), and new local businesses cultivating and expanding across the valley, our economy remains strong. Check out the full article for more information and to learn about several business and professional services companies that are growing exponentially. ------------------------------- To receive our full monthly newsletter, click here.