Questions for about Meridian and surrounding areas (Boise, Nampa: new home, unemployment)

[tiredofAZ]

Hi all! I am planning a move to Idaho from AZ and have some questions for anyone who will help me. I am looking seriously at Meridian area (possibly Eagle, but it looks out of my budget maybe). Anyway my questions are what is the illegal population like there? I am NOT a racist, so please don't take my question that way. My concerns are more about the socio-economic issues that we have in AZ that I don't want to end up with in my new home state. Also my husband is a paint contractor. There appears to be lots of work there. Am I okay to assume that? Also we are hoping for good workers who are legal citizens of this country. A major problem in Phx, but I am so much hoping that problem isn't everywhere. Any response would be very much appreciated. Again please don't anyone take this that I am racist. I assure you, I am not. I also applaude all legal immigrants for seeking a better life. It's the tax issues with illegals that I am fed up with.

tiredofAZ

[markpemble]

I am pretty sure there is not as much illegal immigration in Idaho as there is in Arizona.
However, wherever you go, you will run into it.

[babydawn]

Originally Posted by tiredofAZ

Hi all! I am planning a move to Idaho from AZ and have some questions for anyone who will help me. I am looking seriously at Meridian area (possibly Eagle, but it looks out of my budget maybe). Anyway my questions are what is the illegal population like there? I am NOT a racist, so please don't take my question that way. My concerns are more about the socio-economic issues that we have in AZ that I don't want to end up with in my new home state. Also my husband is a paint contractor. There appears to be lots of work there. Am I okay to assume that? Also we are hoping for good workers who are legal citizens of this country. A major problem in Phx, but I am so much hoping that problem isn't everywhere. Any response would be very much appreciated. Again please don't anyone take this that I am racist. I assure you, I am not. I also applaude all legal immigrants for seeking a better life. It's the tax issues with illegals that I am fed up with.

tiredofAZ

There are a lot of hispanics in the nampa/caldwell area, I am not sure how many are illegal. Meridian and all surrounding areas are booming with constuction. I hear rumors (not sure where they came from) that the Boise area (meridian included) will double within the next ten years. So, I would assume there would be enough work.

[orb]

tiredofAZ,
As was posted earlier, the Nampa/Caldwell has the largest Hispanic population in the area. (These are not "official" numbers, but I have lived here for 30 years so I am *very* familiar with Boise/Meridian/Eagle/Nampa/Caldwell). No idea who's illegal and who isn't. Don't care anyway.

As far as business goes, you will have no trouble finding work - the housing/construction industry here is through the roof! I work with construction people/realtors every day and I can not believe the rate at which things are happening. Hopefully that helps.

Ironically, my wife and I are looking into moving to AZ. Not for economic reasons though. It's just that we've lived here so long that we feel like we've been everywhere and done everything in Idaho. ; ) If you have any AZ info to share, we would appreciate it.

[MiJi]

Just to let you know, the weather here in Idaho plays a HUGE part for those in the construction business (my husband is an electricain.) So keep in mind that a painters work WILL be a LOT slower here in the wintertime than it is in Arizona (which is basically year round great weather for construction workers.) In fact, my husband has to draw unemployment almost every winter when building slows down.

We are moving to Arizona so I would also be very interested in hearing a few things about that state (we're moving to Wittmann, which is about 40 miles NW of Phoenix.)