The Town FilesBoise City, Idaho
City in Ada County · population 235,684 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $484,800
- Household income
- $83,904
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 18 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 38.6
Boise City is a city of 235,684 people in Ada County, Idaho. The median home is worth $484,800, above the typical Idaho town ($291,900). It ranks more walkable than 99% of Idaho towns, more vibrant than 99% of Idaho towns, better for young professionals than 97% of Idaho towns.
How Boise City ranks
Percentile among Idaho towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Idaho towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Boise City is worth $484,800, above the typical Idaho town ($291,900). Homes cost about 5.8 times the median household income of $83,904, which is more affordable than 18% of Idaho towns. Median rent is $1,446 a month. 63.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Boise City | Typical Idaho town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $484,800 | $291,900 |
| Median rent | $1,446 | $1,029 |
| Median household income | $83,904 | $66,924 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.8× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 63.2% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.1% | — |
Who lives in Boise City
| People | Boise City | Typical Idaho town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.6 | 36.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.2% | 16.5% |
| Under 18 | 18.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 47.5% | 21.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.6% | 11.4% |
| Veterans | 7.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.9% | — |
| Work from home | 17.6% | 8.4% |
| Average commute | 18.9 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.7% | 91.2% |
Weather in Boise City
July highs average 92.7°F and January lows 25.5°F. About 11.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 17.6 inches of snow (typical Idaho town: 38.8 in). Expect about 55 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 108 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Boise City since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Idaho town. The strongest, an F1, struck on October 26, 1984 about 7.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 3, 2000.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 11 times; the largest was 1.50 inches on August 6, 2009.
Severe weather in Ada County since 1996
Ada County has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 9, 2020 | Biological | DR-4534: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3467: Covid-19 |
| October 7, 2017 | Flood | DR-4342: Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3244: Hurricane Katrina |
| September 1, 2000 | Fire | DR-1341: Wildfires |
Jobs and pay in Ada County
Ada County had 288,010 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $70,588 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Boise City itself the ACS puts it at 3.6%.
Public schools in Boise City
46 public schools with 19,346 students, about 16.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| BOISE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,517 | 17.8 |
| TIMBERLINE HIGH SCHOOL | 10-12 | 1,391 | 19.9 |
| BORAH SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,295 | 16.0 |
| SAGE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF BOISE (charter) | K-12 | 1,022 | 16.0 |
| NORTH JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 7-9 | 924 | 18.9 |
| WEST JUNIOR HIGH | 7-9 | 746 | 17.3 |
| LES BOIS JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 6-9 | 668 | 16.3 |
| FAIRMONT JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 7-9 | 633 | 13.5 |
| EAST JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 7-9 | 594 | 18.0 |
| SOUTH JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 7-9 | 560 | 15.1 |
| WHITE PINE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 543 | 18.7 |
| WHITTIER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 531 | 17.7 |
Towns near Boise City
- Garden City, ID5.8 mi · 12,316 people · home $449,500
- Hidden Springs, ID8.3 mi · 3,076 people · home $773,500
- Meridian, ID8.5 mi · 117,635 people · home $531,600
- Kuna, ID10.0 mi · 24,011 people · home $423,900
- Eagle, ID11.3 mi · 30,346 people · home $772,900
- Star, ID14.9 mi · 11,117 people · home $564,300
- Nampa, ID16.6 mi · 100,200 people · home $370,800
- Middleton, ID20.7 mi · 9,425 people · home $403,100
Boise City questions
Is Boise City, Idaho a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Boise City scores better for retirees than 37% of Idaho towns and quieter than 6%. 16.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.6).
How much does a house cost in Boise City?
The median owner-occupied home in Boise City is valued at $484,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $83,904, so homes cost about 5.8 times income. Median rent is $1,446 a month.
What is the weather like in Boise City?
July highs average 92.7°F and January lows 25.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 11.5 inches of precipitation a year and 17.6 inches of snow.
Does Boise City get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Boise City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on October 26, 1984. The typical Idaho town has had 2.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)