Any forum member is from Boise, Idaho? How could you compare it to Buenos Aires? We are considering relocating maybe next year ( married couple in late 40s with nursing and computer science degrees and a 12 year old ). Any tips / advice?
Hello, I live in Boise, Idaho and my family is considering moving to Argentina within the next year or so. I read this entire thread and joined the forum just now so I could try to provide some insight about the area as best as I can. While it's true that Idaho is a conservative leaning state, Boise is more "purple" due to the presence of Boise State University. We have a mayor and city council fully on board with the WEF and the UN 2030 agenda, and they're working tirelessly to change zoning laws to allow for more and more multifamily residential units of various heights to be built willy nilly on smaller and smaller plots of land without regard for proximity to single family homes. This is high desert country, and some people's wells have been going dry over the last few years. Despite that, the city doesn't bother to do impact studies to determine whether the water table can support the increased needs of the multitude of new residents they hope to have fill all the ugly apartment buildings they're approving, or the impact on traffic or transportation either. Boise has some bus routes, but you'll need a car to really get around. If you're a commercial contractor and can afford to build subdivisions or apartment buildings, you'll love our mayor and council and they'll be happy to accept your campaign contributions.
The median price of a home in Boise is currently $568,000, and apartment rents start around $1400 per month. You can find older homes in the $400k range, and luxurious homes costing in the millions depending on where you decide to live. A "good" salary in the Boise area is around $59k a year. Summer temperatures reach into the 100's and often stay that way for months, springtime is rainy, fall is mild and pleasant, and winters are milder than the rest of Idaho's due to us being in a valley protected by the surrounding mountains. We get a lot of migratory ducks and geese here year-round, so we don't have to treat our pets for fleas or ticks, but you may have to if you go trekking in the mountains and woods.
Boise and the surrounding area have low crime -- especially as compared to larger cities and cities with "progressive" prosecuting attorneys. The weather precludes a rampant homeless problem, and our law enforcement upholds the law here. We don't have problems with Antifa, BLM riots, rampant carjackings, out of control shoplifting, robbery, rapes, and homicides like Portland, Seattle, Los Angeles, San Fransisco, Chicago, New York, and other more "progressive" places do. You can walk down the street in Boise and the surrounding towns without fear for your life, and yes, you can even leave your car unlocked and still find it sitting there when you come back to it in most cases. The whole area is growing though, so the influx of added people and "diversity" is gradually causing crime to go up. It's also putting a strain on housing affordability, infrastructure, school overcrowding, and causing the cost of everything (including taxes) to go up. Everything is taxed here - including food.
Cultural activities: The Morrison Center at BSU offers off Broadway theatrical and ballet performances, there's the Boise Philharmonic for orchestra fans, and of course we have museums, the zoo, a nearby birds of prey center, the Basque Cultural Center, Multicultural expos and events, movie theaters, and outdoor activities galore.
Dining, Music, and Nightlife: Boise has some fabulous restaurants downtown, and you'll find good restaurants of every sort in the surrounding towns as well. There are live comedy clubs, and plenty of places to enjoy music, dancing, and cocktails. It offers everything from exclusive places such as the Arid Club to hole in the wall joints - there's something for everyone. Marijuana isn't sold legally here, but the Oregon border isn't far away and it's a quick trip there and back for those who are into that.
Healthcare: We have world class hospital systems here in Boise - and they have branches in Meridian, Nampa, and the surrounding communities as well. Whether you need a cardiovascular specialist, a top-notch Rheumatologist, or any specialty in between, you can find them here. If you want to get an abortion, you'll need to go over the border to Oregon, but that's the only issue here. The state most certainly does support adoptions and has a foster care system as well.
"Alternative Lifestyles" - Gays, lesbians, and transgender persons live here and aren't discriminated against. Idaho folks are friendly people in general who will accept you and let you do you. There's a "pride" recognition thing in Boise each year where they have their rainbow flags around downtown, but that's about it.
If you're seriously thinking about moving to this area, I highly recommend Meridian. It's a small but rapidly developing community next to Boise, and I think it's going to surpass Boise in the number of fine shops, services, restaurants, activities to do, and in the quality of life.