Best-Worst places in Idaho???? (Boise, Pocatello: buying, place to live, restaurants)

[AJ2009]

Question: I found a spot near Boise called Eagle, and I wanted to know if the area's crime rate is low?

[YOU-CANT-EAT-SCENERY]

Originally Posted by AJ2009

Question: I found a spot near Boise called Eagle, and I wanted to know if the area's crime rate is low?

Start HERE. You might have to search around for link for crime statistics Lots of info.

[LeiGul]

Best: Boise and the surrounding areas, not many towns beat their variety of things to do and see. (I'm not from Boise...YET!)

Worst: Arco It is out in the middle of NOWHERE!!!! Not pretty either, just a few houses slapped inthe middle of the desert!

[Maxxsgirl]

How far away and in which direction should a newcomer look for a home to get away from the paper mill smell in Lewiston?
Is it year-round or occassionally?
Someone said that they regarded it as an arid area. We would prefer trees and such, but within the vicinity of Lewiston. Got any suggestions??

[farasmussen]

Hey, I live in Shoshone!! Do you know what history is here?

Yeah, last November I refused to move to shoshone. It was the last place I wanted to go. I have lived all over Idaho. Kamiah, Sandpoint, Bonners Ferry, Pocatello, Blackfoot (Firth), Twin Falls/Kimberly, Boise, and now I live here. It has taken me some time to adjust but I am starting to appreciate the people here. There is not much for work here, and there are a lot of legal/illegal immigrants. Everyone commutes to Ketchum, works on farms and dairies, or commutes to Twin Falls. It is hard to get to know your neighbors when no one is home.

I can't say northern Idaho will ever be out of my blood. This past summer I took my husband there. He fell in love with my history there and developed a better understanding why it holds my heart. If it weren't for the short growing season (we have animals) we would move. Shoshone is not that bad. Not my favorite, but you can get to either side of the state in 2 1/2 hours max.

Lewiston will always smell but so will Pocatello. Rexburg is huge in LDS population but Twin Falls has grown so much they are getting a temple to cater to the growing population. Carey is full of LDS, the local bar calls themselves Carey 3rd ward. California ranks (and I am trying to go from memory. someone else please correct me) 3rd highest population of LDS in the United States. CDA is growing as well.

If you are moving you find what you are looking for anywhere you go. It just may not be as developed as you hope it will be. And if we are traveling does it really matter? Don't we travel to take a break from home and see the world?!?!

[DesertZone]

I also have found shoshone to be a very nice place to live. I have lived all around the southern part of the state- eastern and western, but have lived in Shohsone for the past 14 years.
I like the feeling of the place and the people here are as good as anywhere. These people will never let you stay stuck in the snow or not offer help when you need it.
Winters here can sometimes be harsh and spring winds may blow, but the rest of the season is wonderful. The town is centrally located, not far from any one thing. The town is located in the middle of the desert, but not far from the Sawtooth mountains (sking)to the north, and not far from realy any thing else (gambling, stores, eatern or wetern Idaho).
I chose to live here becuase of the wide open spaces, but its location is great too.

[manybees]

Seven pages of posts and not one person got it right. Idaho is the best place to live in Idaho, where ever you live there. I personally love Idaho Falls and Eastern Idaho for what it offers, but I could be happy in the Treasure Valley or Northern Idaho just as well. There is no doubt that we lack a lot of things that other places have, ie. amusment parks and ocean views and infrastructure that will take years if not decades to build, and then there is the lower than average wages as compared to other places. So why is it that Boise consistently ranks high in best cities polling, and Idaho Falls was ranked #2 of the ten best small cities in the US to live, work and build a home in 2007? It is because of what we do have; scenery, diversity, wide open spaces, low crime rates, and hopefully some tolerance for differences. I for one, dislike those people that get on here and bash the Mormons. In all my time here, my neighbors have never made me uncomfortable or "tried to convert me". On the contrary, they are mostly good friends, living their lives while I live mine. Six years of my life in California taught me to value good neighbors.

[twinprism]

There are good things about all of the towns in Idaho, it really depends on what you want. I could find something nice to say about almost any town in Idaho including Arco (most days of sunshine a year?). I haven't heard very good things about Caldwell or Buhl, but I haven't spent any time there. The area surrounding Boise is not my cup of tea due to the traffic and poor urban planning, but some really like it. Downtown Boise's restaurants and festivals and parks makes it a joy to visit.

If you are sensitive to LDS influence and what your neighbors think, I wouldn't move to Blackfoot or Rexburg as it is a little too much the predominant religion in those areas and people get the group think going. Rexburg is close to some awesome areas though. Not that I have anything against LDS people, I think they are great people and neighbors, but it seems to affect school ages kids more with the you can't play with so and so because they don't have the same values as we do. (yes, I have really heard that). Most are live and let live if you let them know you aren't interested. It would definitely be easier to succeed in people businesses if your customers see you on Sundays. Larger cities have a much more needed diversity. I think things are getting better now as more outsiders move in because of the hot economy. Just my experience living here all my life and having been both on the inside and the out. I'm not your typical bitter "recovering Mormon"

Me, I'm happy in Pocatello, but I love hiking, running, mtn. biking and skiing. I really enjoy visiting most of the rest of the state and I love all the diversity. I just wish it wasn't so many miles, gas is expensive@ I keep finding new treasures all the time, I've lived in SE Idaho most of my life, and just feel like I'm starting to scratch the surface. It would be harder to support myself in a smaller town, but if I could make it work that could be fun.

I'll have agree with manybees that the best place to live is wherever you are.

[cushla]

Interested to know what Soda Springs is like....is it LDS country?

[twinprism]

Soda is mostly LDS country ( as is most of rural Southeast Idaho) but there is a large phosphate mine there that brings in some outsiders. Great place to live if you like to hunt and fish or otherwise in the outdoors.