Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
It looks like these two mid-sized cities are doing really well growth and economy wise.
How do they compare in the following:
-Downtown/core city
-New Development
-Natural Environment
-Nearby Attractions
-Surrounding towns or suburbs
-Food scene
-Education
-Future growth potential
-Cost of living / quality of life
Des Moines is a more urban city with prosperous suburbs, and amenities that really punch above it's weight class. Iowa State is in the greater Des Moines sphere as well as Drake University, both of which are a long ways ahead of BSU academically. Des Moines' food scene in particular is really good for it's size.
Boise runs away with natural environment and nearby attractions being nestled at the base of the mountains and everything that comes with it.
I've visited Boise twice, lived in Des Moines for about 4 years, and have a very high opinion of both for different reasons. I would say if you care more about urban amenities, Des Moines is your pick. If you care more about outdoor recreation, Boise.