Mountain Home, ID (Boise, Sun Valley, Hagerman: housing, recreation, community)

[wilkermoo]

Can anyone tell me what it is like living in Mountain Home, ID? Is the area rural or more suburban? What is the weather like? How much snow does the area get? Is Mountain Home close enough to Boise to go shopping and to go to events? Any info would be incredibly helpful, Thanks!

[Pineboy]

Mountain Home is about a 45 minute drive from Boise and is mainly an air force base town. A lot of people don't really care much for Mt. Home because it is kind of isolated. The 45 minutes to Boise is nothing but sagebrush plateaus (and mountains rising above those plateaus) with homes here and there dotting the landscape. When you enter Boise the landscape changes dramatically. Mountain Home isn't "in" the mountains, but there are mountains all around with foothills at the Northern edge of town that gradually give way to tall forested mountains.
There seems to be a lot of growth there with new housing developments and commercial development. If you like the outdoors there are a lot of very beautiful and mystical areas nearby, but the town itself kind of seems like it is in a desolate area to many people. But within a half hours drive North you can find the forests and tall mountains like I mentioned earlier. Or if you drive South you can find the desert canyons which appeal to a lot of people also.
I guess it depends on your preference. I know of people who hate Mountain Home and some who really like it there because of its close proximity to Boise and the outdoors. And the less expensive housing.
They don't get very much snow--it usually stays in the mountains.

[wilkermoo]

Thanks Pineboy for your response to my question, I really appreciate any input I can get.

[boomerbeth]

Mtn Home is growing and improving but still needs a good community/rec center as a way for townspeople to meet, socialize etc. Boise is close enough to enjoy all it offers. The weather is mild in my opinion but I'm originally from Minnesota so...I like the high desert so think the area is pretty. And its near to so many fabulous outdoor activities: hot springs at Hagerman, beautiful c.j. strike lake for fishing and waterskiiing, Anderson Ranch Dam and recreatiion area, the Sun Valley area, skiing at Soldier Mountain and on and on. It really is a recreation paradise here and has the good fortune of being near a big city. The Mountains in one direction, the high desert in another. And of course, there's the base, which is great if you're in the military or retired military and get to use it.