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Boise is already booming, and every time we drive through I'm reminded how much bigger it is than I remember- and bigger than most people imagine. There's been a significant growth in the tech sector- two of the largest employers are Micron and HP. Other than tech, there's substantial industry and in medical with the state government being headquartered there. The growth has enabled Boise to eclipse Spokane as the third largest metro in the US NW.
But, I wouldn't rule out Spokane from someday taking back over the 3rd position, especially as the CDA area blends together with it even more. Spokane has a decent amount of existing infrastructure and impressive architecture, a decent sized airport with reasonable connections, and uncharacteristically to the West- a rather large inventory of inexpensively priced housing. It's also in a pretty great location with a pretty reasonable climate (in my opinion) and great access to the outdoors. As expensive as much of the western cities are, I get the feeling that a wave of people will gravitate in its direction one day. And if the area collectively develops more self esteem and more business savvy, I could easily imagine the area going through a legitimate resurgence/boom.
Is Spokane really doing that poorly? I know if I were to ask randoms here in Arizona what they thought of Spokane it would be drug-related. I think that hurts Spokane a lot. If it can shake off its reputation of crime and drugs maybe it will do well, especially considering its in Washington it might benefit from being a cheaper area in the PNW with no state income tax. I guess in a business sense, I'm assuming, businesses would have a better time (taxes) in Washington than Idaho, no? So why is Boise doing better if not the image? Seattle is doing superb and that place is expensive and rainy. Don't get me wrong, Seattle sounds like a nice place, but still. How has Spokane tried not to jump on this as well?
Boise does appear to be garnering national attention now. It makes me mad because I think I would like living in this area of the country but I was born too late and I don't own property in California that I can sell so I can't afford anything anymore. Boise appears to be the only "big city" in the area. Montana and Wyoming by and large are rural (not that the other places aren't, but less so) and Montana especially, practically costs more than California does for some reason. Eastern Oregon for some reason has about nothing other than Bend which is also costly. So I would agree with most of the poll on E. Washington and Idaho.
It is already happening in Tri-Cities, WA. Richland, Pasco, Kennewick. Extremely hot real estate market. Many transplants from W. WA, and W. OR. Low real estate prices, but rising. Great climate, lots of sunshine.
There it is mostly population demographics, a very young average age of the population due to high birth rate, and fast overall population growth.
Distinction between booming and growing rapidly. Austin is booming, because it's growing 3% a year and already has 2 million people. Bend, Oregon is growing at nearly the same rate, but with just 200,000 people in that metro area, it's growing rapidly more than it's really "booming".
Distinction between booming and growing rapidly. Austin is booming, because it's growing 3% a year and already has 2 million people. Bend, Oregon is growing at nearly the same rate, but with just 200,000 people in that metro area, it's growing rapidly more than it's really "booming".
Bend, OR fastest growing demographic is elderly population, it is a active retiree/outdoor recreation area with lower average wages and high housing costs.
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