Meridan vs Eagle home prices

[MrGerardo]

Originally Posted by ILI.EB

If space is what you're looking for, I agree that it would be better to look for a single family home, but sometimes people want the maintenance taken care of and don't need the space. Home prices are on the rise though and it seems as if they are increasing rapidly.

Also home prices in the areas I mentioned for the condo's are often near twice the price for a comparable home elsewhere in the Boise / Meridian, so that may hold some weight as to which to buy.

I am not from the Chicago area, but I am from the San Francisco area and Boise is very nice in many many aspects. If you like big city living though, then it isn't what you would want. It's hard to get used to the lack of a real freeway system and the lack certain amenities only offered in larger cities.

If you love outdoors, a quieter and slower lifestyle, mountains, rural scenery, etc then it is awesome. I do love it and my only complaint is really that it lacks true "large city amenities" and that is my own fault for believing that I could live without some things.

If you like what you have been reading about the area, maybe it's time for a visit

Well, I don't live in downtown Chicago, but on the outskirts of the city, but not quite the suburbs. I prefer scenery and slow pace of life. I don't care about the nightlife, bar scene, best of take your pick. I just don't want high taxes and too many people all in close proximity to each other.

[Meganmumea]

What amenities do you miss?

[ILI.EB]

Well there are a lot of things I miss such as:
-An efficient freeway system
-Theme parks
-High end shopping and dining (some people here claim there is plenty of this in Boise - although there is some, coming from San Francisco I still find it seriously lacking)

There are others, but I can't think of them off the top of my head and they aren't pressing issues. I just know when I occasionally have an urge to do something that I used to do at home and I can't find something similar here - but it's usually not a huge deal.

Aside from those few things. I am a person who gets bored easily and I miss going to a different city for shopping / dining all the time. Here that isn't really an option. There are a few cities, but nothing like the number of cities in a major metro.

I also liked the way roads were maintained, widened, updated etc. I feel that this area's roadways are outdated and inadequate for the volume of drivers in certain parts of town. It isn't that traffic is a huge huge issue, but it's the frustration from the lack of turn lanes, etc.

There is still something that is appealing enough about Boise that makes me question if I should move back or not so there is definitely plenty of good and this is all just my opinion and view. (Bogus Basin, snow, setting, downtown...)

MrGerardo:
If nightlife, bars, busy city-life isn't your thing then Boise may be a great fit. It is mostly suburban with an urban core. There is no nearby mega-city, though and there isn't a huge string of cities like you'll find in your current area. If you are'nt like me and don't get bored easily, this is an awesome place. In my opinion, to really make it work here you have to love the outdoors and have strong family values - that is who seems to be attracted to Boise most.

Sales tax is low here, but income tax is moderate. Our highest tax brack starts at just around $26k annually and is roughly 7.8% Property tax is typically about 1.25% and car registration is super cheap.

[MrGerardo]

Originally Posted by ILI.EB

Well there are a lot of things I miss such as:
-An efficient freeway system
-Theme parks
-High end shopping and dining (some people here claim there is plenty of this in Boise - although there is some, coming from San Francisco I still find it seriously lacking)

There are others, but I can't think of them off the top of my head and they aren't pressing issues. I just know when I occasionally have an urge to do something that I used to do at home and I can't find something similar here - but it's usually not a huge deal.

Aside from those few things. I am a person who gets bored easily and I miss going to a different city for shopping / dining all the time. Here that isn't really an option. There are a few cities, but nothing like the number of cities in a major metro.

I also liked the way roads were maintained, widened, updated etc. I feel that this area's roadways are outdated and inadequate for the volume of drivers in certain parts of town. It isn't that traffic is a huge huge issue, but it's the frustration from the lack of turn lanes, etc.

There is still something that is appealing enough about Boise that makes me question if I should move back or not so there is definitely plenty of good and this is all just my opinion and view. (Bogus Basin, snow, setting, downtown...)

MrGerardo:
If nightlife, bars, busy city-life isn't your thing then Boise may be a great fit. It is mostly suburban with an urban core. There is no nearby mega-city, though and there isn't a huge string of cities like you'll find in your current area. If you are'nt like me and don't get bored easily, this is an awesome place. In my opinion, to really make it work here you have to love the outdoors and have strong family values - that is who seems to be attracted to Boise most.

Sales tax is low here, but income tax is moderate. Our highest tax brack starts at just around $26k annually and is roughly 7.8% Property tax is typically about 1.25% and car registration is super cheap.

I haven't posted here for a while. If I were to move out of Chicago, I would definitely prefer a much smaller city. I don't care about a freeway system, the "bar scene", box stores, or anything associated with an urban area. I need a slower pace of life. I would like to hear from people who were originally from northern Illinois and moved to the Boise area.