Moving to Pocatello? (Idaho Falls, Chubbuck: 2014, violent crime, credit)

[Planet Earth]

My husband and I are considering moving to Pocatello in July/August. We have a son going into the 10th grade. From what I understand, it doesn't matter where you live - if there isn't room at your district school, your child will be placed wherever they choose. My son wants to do a dual credit deal and our school of choice is Century High School. There's a HUGE difference between there and Pocatello High school, where I think my son would be miserable, after reading the horrible ratings and comments. Being that we don't live there, I don't know really what's true. Can someone educate me on the high school situation. The high school situation is a huge motivating factor in choosing Pocatello.

Second, are there parts of town to avoid buying a house? How about Chubbuck or other close outlying areas?

What is it like for people who aren't LDS. I've read a few threads where people found it hard to make friends and find work if you aren't affiliated with the LDS church. Is that true?

Last - my husband will be bringing his construction/handyman business there - is there a decent need for handyman services?

Thank you in advance!

[Theotherdude]

I would say Pocatello all around is a safe bet if it has to be Pocatello. There really isnt anywhere I would avoid as in bad neighborhoods. I cant speak to the schools, as I came up in the Idaho Falls school system. Except I heard that Chubbuck/Highland HS are more "snobby" but not necessarily in a class kinda way but maybe religious. Mormons make great neighbors and friends. Some will not associate with outsiders generally speaking while most are pretty friendly. I would avoid less populated towns where the religious segregation is more evident. Last, there is a huge need for handyman services here. Most guys I know are swamped with work

[Fish Taco64]

My wife and I moved to Poky in September of 2017.we don't have kids, so unfortunately I can't help you much with your schooling questions. As for the rest:

Pocatello is very safe overall. There is some property crime, but very little in the way of violent crime. Personally, I would not buy in Old Town, because those lots tend to be small and the houses very close together. I wouldn't buy in the University area due to the annoyance of increased traffic. I have never felt unsafe in either of those areas, or anywhere else in town.

We are not LDS and have had no issues. We have made quite a few friends, mostly through my wife's work. A few sessions f them are LDS, and they are nice people. I think LDS has this reputation for trying to be overly pushy, that may be the case elsewhere, but we have not experienced it here.

I think handyman and construction type work is in demand here, and most places. I don't think he would have many problems, though I am not in that field.

[pnwguy2]

Non LDS moved to Pocatello in 2006. No issues. You will find most in Poky and IF are accepting of non LDS. It just isn’t an issue. However you probably will have a hard time getting into their click. But that is ok. They will still treat you well. Btw I lived in both Poky and IF in my 8 years there. Poky is perhaps more tolerant of outsiders and a bit more quirky but IF is still very friendly despite your religion or lack of.

[f5fstop]

NO KIDS. Moved to Chubbuck in 2014, no crime to speak of. I believe in my neighborhood the only bad thing that has happened here in the past five years is someone stole a few tailgates from Ford PU trucks (three years ago). Never heard anything bad for Poky except for the drunks in the Old Town area near the dog park I used to go to but that was never really any problem.

As for Mormons. I had one "known" Mormon neighbor who identified himself as a "Jack" Mormon in between his beers (one reason why his parents had nothing to do with him I guess). I say had cause he is dead. Other than that, I know of no other Mormons in my direct neighborhood. I'm sure they are here, just don't know any.

Yes, they do come around on occasion, but they sure don't hang around. in fact the first visitors Ii had were Jehovah Witnesses.

I moved here from UT so I had no worry about Mormons, but I do believe many people worry too much about them. They are not bad people. In fact, in UT they made great neighbors. I guess they do here too, just not sure where they are.

[LanaLaine]

Originally Posted by pnwguy2

Non LDS moved to Pocatello in 2006. No issues. You will find most in Poky and IF are accepting of non LDS. It just isn’t an issue. However you probably will have a hard time getting into their click. But that is ok. They will still treat you well. Btw I lived in both Poky and IF in my 8 years there. Poky is perhaps more tolerant of outsiders and a bit more quirky but IF is still very friendly despite your religion or lack of.

Why did you move back to WA? We are getting ready to head to Idaho from Walla Walla. Did you leave Poky because you didn’t like it?

[pnwguy2]

Originally Posted by LanaLaine

Why did you move back to WA? We are getting ready to head to Idaho from Walla Walla. Did you leave Poky because you didn’t like it?

No not really. More just a desire to get back to my native state. Idaho is fine but Washington is where my roots are. I don’t miss the stubborn conservative voice there however. But Pocatello is more independent than Idaho falls imo.

[EyeOnMadisonStreet]

Been considering moving to somewhere in Idaho Wyoming or Montana. Poky has recently caught my eye. Would you mind expanding a bit on the "stubborn conservative voice" there?

[banjomike]

Originally Posted by EyeOnMadisonStreet

Been considering moving to somewhere in Idaho Wyoming or Montana. Poky has recently caught my eye. Would you mind expanding a bit on the "stubborn conservative voice" there?

What do you think it means?
People with firm political beliefs seldom change them. They hang onto them, and are ready to argue for them if need be.

That should already be very clear to anyone these days.

[EyeOnMadisonStreet]

@ banjomike: "What do you think it means?
People with firm political beliefs seldom change them. They hang onto them, and are ready to argue for them if need be.

That should already be very clear to anyone these days."

"Conservative" means different things to different people. It sounded like pnwguy2 didn't have a good experience of the people he thought of as conservatives. If you don't mind, I'd like to get a flavor of the conversations he had, and of the Idaho criteria for judging "conservative" or "liberal".

Around my neck of the woods, the only people who dare argue for their political point of view are on the left. Publicly vocal staunch conservatives, if that's what we're talking about, will be a new experience for me.