Small towns near larger cities (Boise, Pocatello: for sale, employment, high schools)

[cldj40]

I'm looking for information on small towns near larger cities (5000 up) for retirement relocation. Employment is not a problem or consideration.

I guess along the lines of -

TWIN FALLS: Hansen, Castleford, Buhl, Filer, Murtaugh, Hagerman, Kimberlyetc.

JEROME: Wendell, Gooding, Shoshone, Dietrich, Bliss, Hazelton, etc.

CALDWELL: Notus, Homedale, Parma, Melba, Wilder, Marsing, etc.

POCATELLO: Arimo, American Falls, etc

IDAHO FALLS: Shelley, Firth, Ririe, Rigby, etc.

BURLEY/RUPERT: Declo, Malta, etc.

LEWISTON: Lapwai, Culdesac, Genesee, etc.

MOSCOW: Potlatch, Troy, etc.

COEUR D'ALENE: Rathdrum, Post Falls, Plummer, etc.

SANDPOINT: Clark Fork, Bonners Ferry, etc.

I mean I can read a map. And as you can see 5,000 is a city to me. We love the quiet life of small towns but would like to be within easy driving distance of larger towns (or as I call anything above 5000 - Cities).

Any recommendations would be sincerely appreciated. Will be about 8-9 months before the move, just planning ahead.

Thanks in advance for all your help. Love just reading this board and the pictures are awesome.

[shades_of_idaho]

Midvale is a small town close (20 miles) from a larger city. It is about 45 miles from Ontario Oregon where we do almost all of our shopping and only 90 miles from Boise for big time shopping if you feel you need something like the big box stores. Nice place to live. A few good places for sale here too. Not much for employment. Friendly little town. I think I have the link for it in my profile or where I live. We have only lived in Midvale a little over a year but have been in the area for 15 years. We really like it here and find the distances to shopping not a problem.

Chris

[brokencrayola]

Maybe you should tell us more about the type of weather that suits you best, whether you like being in the woods or in a more open area, some of your hobbies, do you like to ski, hunt, things that better tell us what type of area and lifestyle you would like.

[cldj40]

No skiing, too old for that. Hunt and fish but it is more fun when you make a day or weekend of it, in other words when you make it special. We like to watch high school sports but I'd assume that most of these little towns have high schools. I guess if I had to choose between woods and open area, I'd choose the open area. Nowadays I wouldn't do it, but a place I'd be tempted to not even lock my doors.
Friendly folks are important.