Idaho 101: Potatoes, Boise Boom, and Conservative Mountain Living

Geography and Climate: Mountains, Rivers, and Four Seasons

Understanding Idaho's landscape:

Size and remoteness:

Large but empty:

• 83,000 square miles (14th largest state)
• Population: 2 million (39th—sparse)
• 570 miles north-south (Canada to Nevada—8 hour drive)
• 45% public land (national forests, wilderness—vast undeveloped space)

Three distinct regions:

Northern Idaho (panhandle):

• Cities: Coeur d'Alene, Sandpoint
• Geography: Mountains, lakes (Coeur d'Alene Lake—stunning)
• Climate: Four seasons, heavy snow winters
• Vibe: Resort towns, retirees, outdoor recreation
• Politics: Very conservative

Southwestern Idaho (population center):

• Cities: Boise (240,000—half state's population in metro), Nampa, Meridian
• Geography: High desert, Boise River, foothills
• Climate: Hot, dry summers (90-100°F); cold winters (20-35°F, snow)
• Vibe: Urban growth, tech jobs, transplants
• Politics: Purple (Boise moderate, suburbs conservative)

Eastern Idaho (rural, agricultural):

• Cities: Idaho Falls, Pocatello, Twin Falls
• Geography: Snake River Plain, mountains
• Climate: Cold winters (0-20°F), hot summers
• Vibe: Farming, ranching, Mormon influence (heavily LDS)
• Politics: Deep red conservative

Climate (four distinct seasons):

Boise (represents Southwestern Idaho):

• Summer: 90-100°F (dry heat, low humidity—bearable)
• Winter: 20-35°F (snow 20 inches/year—manageable, not extreme)
• Spring/Fall: 50-70°F (pleasant)
• Sunshine: 206 days/year (more than Seattle 152, Portland 144)

Northern Idaho:

• Cooler, wetter (more Pacific Northwest influence)
• Heavy snow (Sandpoint 70+ inches, Coeur d'Alene 50 inches)

Eastern Idaho:

• Colder winters (-10°F to 10°F common, record -60°F)
• High elevation (5,000-6,000 ft—affects temps)

Natural disasters:

• Wildfires: Summer (dry forests, lightning)
• Earthquakes: Minor (sits on fault lines, but rare major quakes)
• Severe winter storms (eastern Idaho—blizzards, whiteouts)

The Boise Boom (Fastest-Growing City in America)

Why everyone's moving here:

Population explosion:

The numbers:

• 2010: 616,000 metro
• 2020: 765,000
• 2026: 920,000 (20% increase since 2020—fastest U.S. growth)
• Projections: 1.2 million by 2030

Who's moving?

• Californians (escaping costs, politics—40% of transplants)
• Washingtonians (Seattle refugees—25%)
• Oregonians (Portland expats—15%)
• Remote workers (tech, finance—keep coastal salaries, live Idaho)

Why Boise?

Low cost (relatively—was affordable, now less so):

• Median home 2019: $350,000
• Median home 2026: $550,000 (57% increase—but still cheaper than Seattle $825K, Bay Area $1.5M)
• Rent: $1,600-1,900 one-bedroom (up from $900 in 2019)

No traffic (was true—now false):

• 2015: 15-minute commute anywhere
• 2026: I-84 congested rush hour (30-45 minutes—not Seattle bad, but shocking for Boise natives)

Outdoor recreation:

• Skiing (Bogus Basin 16 miles from downtown)
• Hiking (Boise Foothills—trails from city)
• Rafting, fishing (Boise River, Payette River)
• Mountain biking (Ridge to Rivers trail network)

Conservative politics:

• Low taxes (6.5% income tax—lower than California 13.3%, Oregon 9.9%)
• Gun-friendly (open carry legal, concealed carry shall-issue)
• Business-friendly (light regulations, pro-growth)

Quality of life:

• Clean, safe (low crime compared to Seattle, Portland)
• Family-friendly (good schools, parks)
• Small-city feel (300,000 metro feels intimate)

Housing crisis (the dark side):

Supply can't meet demand:

• Building 5,000 homes/year
• Need 10,000 homes/year (shortage worsens)
• Bidding wars common (10-20 offers on listings)
• Cash buyers (Californians selling $1.2M home, buying Boise $600K cash, pocketing $600K)

Locals priced out:

• Boise median income: $65,000
• Home affordability: Need $90,000+ income (30% rule)
• First-time buyers can't compete (outbid by cash offers)

Rent increases:

• 2019: $900 one-bedroom
• 2026: $1,700 (89% increase—wages up 15%)
• Teachers, service workers, cops can't afford living in city they serve

Infrastructure strain:

Traffic:

• I-84 congested (used to zip through, now crawls)
• Eagle Road, Chinden Boulevard (arterials—backed up)
• Public transit minimal (car-dependent, not built for growth)

Schools:

• Overcrowded (portable classrooms added)
• Teacher shortage (can't afford housing)

Water:

• High desert (limited water supply)
• Growth threatens aquifer (sustainability concerns)

Politics and Culture: Red State, Blue City (Sort Of)

Idaho's conservative identity:

State-level: Deep red

GOP dominance:

• Governor, both senators, all House reps Republican
• Legislature supermajority (80% GOP)
• Last Democrat governor: 1995 (30 years ago)

Policies:

• Strict abortion laws (banned except medical emergencies, rape, incest—trigger law post-Dobbs)
• Constitutional carry (no permit needed—gun rights strong)
• No Medicaid expansion initially (finally passed 2020 via ballot initiative—legislators opposed)
• Low taxes (income 6.5%, sales 6%, property average)
• School choice, vouchers (conservative education priorities)

Boise: Purple-ish (moderate by Idaho standards)

Downtown Boise:

• Liberal enclave (young professionals, transplants, university)
• Votes Democrat locally (but outvoted statewide)
• LGBTQ+ friendly (Pride events, progressive businesses)
• Breweries, coffee shops, food scene (hipster-ish)

Suburbs (Meridian, Eagle, Nampa):

• Conservative (families, religious—LDS influence)
• Votes GOP overwhelmingly

Outcome: Boise feels moderate, but Idaho overall deeply conservative

Cultural tensions (locals vs. transplants):

"Don't California My Idaho":

• Bumper stickers everywhere (Californians resented)
• Fear transplants bring: High costs, progressive politics, traffic, crowding
• Reality: Transplants drive up housing but mostly vote conservative (fled California politics—not bringing them)

Transplant perspective:

• "We're not changing Idaho—we're escaping California because we love conservative values"
• But sheer numbers change city (more breweries, yoga studios, Whole Foods)

Locals feel:

• Priced out of own city
• Culture shifting (old Boise disappearing)
• Outsiders don't respect Idaho traditions (hunting, ranching, rural values)

Irony: Transplants conservative, but locals still resent them (it's about change, not politics alone)

Cost of Living: Cheap (Was), Moderate (Now)

Breaking down expenses:

Housing:

Boise:

• Median home: $550,000 (up from $350K in 2019)
• Rent 1-bedroom: $1,600-1,900
• Property tax: 0.6% (low—$550K home = $3,300/year, $275/month)

Smaller cities:

• Idaho Falls, Pocatello: $350,000-400,000 (more affordable)
• Coeur d'Alene: $550,000-650,000 (resort town—expensive)
• Twin Falls: $320,000 (cheapest, rural)

Taxes:

Income tax:

• Flat 5.8% (recently reduced from 6.5%—trending lower)
• Compare: California 13.3%, Oregon 9.9%, Washington 0%
• $75,000 income = $4,350 Idaho tax (reasonable)

Sales tax:

• 6% state (low compared to 8-10% elsewhere)
• No local sales tax (unlike Washington 10.25%)
• Groceries exempt

Property tax:

• Low (0.6% average—helps offset higher home prices)

Daily costs:

Groceries:

• 5-10% lower than Seattle, Portland
• Costco, WinCo (discount chain popular—saves money)
• Farmers markets (local produce, reasonable)

Gas:

• $3.50-4.00/gallon (lower than West Coast $5-6)

Dining:

• Lunch: $12-18 (cheaper than Seattle $15-25)
• Dinner: $20-35 per person
• Coffee: $4-5 latte (less than Seattle $6)

Income needed:

Boise:

• Single: $60,000 minimum (comfortable)
• Family: $100,000+ (kids, house, savings)

Rural Idaho:

• Lower costs but lower wages
• $50,000 household = middle-class

Jobs and Economy: Tech, Agriculture, and Remote Work

What drives Idaho:

Tech (Boise's growth engine):

Companies:

• Micron Technology (semiconductor manufacturer—9,000 employees, headquarters Boise)
• HP, Clearwater Analytics, Cradlepoint (tech companies)
• Startups growing (venture capital arriving)

Salaries:

• Software engineer: $90,000-140,000 (lower than Seattle $150-300K, but housing cheaper)
• Product manager: $80,000-120,000

Why tech loves Boise:

• Lower costs (pay less than Bay Area, attract talent)
• Quality of life (employees happier—outdoors, safe)
• Tax incentives (Idaho pro-business)

Remote work (game-changer):

Biggest driver of growth:

• Keep Seattle/Bay Area salary ($150,000+)
• Live Boise (housing $550K vs $1.5M)
• Save $50,000+ yearly

Challenge:

• Time zones (Mountain Time—California 1 hour behind, East Coast 3 hours ahead)
• Some companies require office presence (limits options)

Agriculture:

Potatoes (the stereotype—true):

• Idaho grows 30% of U.S. potatoes (13 billion lbs/year)
• Eastern Idaho (Snake River Plain—ideal growing conditions)
• Jobs: Farming, processing (frozen fries—McDonald's, Ore-Ida)

Other agriculture:

• Cattle ranching (beef, dairy)
• Sugar beets, wheat, barley
• Trout farming (aquaculture)

Pay:

• Farmworkers: $30,000-40,000
• Farm managers: $50,000-70,000
• Ag business: $60,000-90,000

Healthcare:

Major employers:

• St. Luke's Health System
• Saint Alphonsus

Salaries:

• Nurses: $65,000-85,000
• Doctors: $180,000-300,000

Tourism:

Sun Valley (luxury ski resort):

• Celebrities, wealthy (Oprah, Tom Hanks, Zuckerberg visit)
• Expensive (median home $2 million+)
• Jobs: Hospitality ($15-25/hour + tips)

National Parks:

• Craters of the Moon (volcanic landscape)
• Sawtooth National Recreation Area (backpacking, climbing)
• Jobs: Park rangers ($40,000-60,000)

Outdoor Recreation: Idaho's True Wealth

Why people stay despite costs, politics:

Mountains and skiing:

Bogus Basin (16 miles from Boise):

• Skiing, snowboarding (season pass $500—cheap)
• Night skiing (ski after work)

Sun Valley:

• World-class (hosted first chairlift in U.S., 1936)
• Expensive but legendary

Schweitzer (Sandpoint):

• Northern Idaho (powder, tree skiing)

Rivers and lakes:

Boise River:

• Floats (summer—rent tube, float 2 hours through city)
• Fishing (trout)

Payette River:

• Whitewater rafting (Class III-IV rapids)

Lakes:

• Coeur d'Alene (crystal clear, boat/swim/paddleboard)
• Redfish Lake (Sawtooth Mountains—stunning alpine lake)

Hiking and backpacking:

Sawtooth Wilderness:

• Jagged peaks, alpine lakes
• Backpacking (multi-day trips)

Craters of the Moon:

• Volcanic landscape (lava tubes, cinder cones—otherworldly)

Boise Foothills:

• 190 miles trails (access from city—hike after work)

Hunting and fishing:

Big game hunting:

• Elk, deer, moose, bear, mountain lion
• Huge hunting culture (locals teach kids young)

Fishing:

• Trout streams (fly fishing paradise)
• Salmon (Salmon River—namesake)

Mormon Influence (Especially Eastern Idaho)

Understanding LDS presence:

The numbers:

Idaho is 26% Mormon (LDS Church)

• Eastern Idaho: 40-60% LDS (Rexburg 95%—BYU-Idaho)
• Boise: 15-20% (less dominant)
• Northern Idaho: 5-10%

Cultural impact:

Pros:

• Family-oriented (strong communities, low crime)
• Clean living (no alcohol/tobacco/drugs—LDS don't partake)
• Volunteer culture (service-minded)

Cons (for non-Mormons):

• Social exclusion (if not LDS, harder fitting in Eastern Idaho)
• Limited nightlife (fewer bars, restaurants in LDS-heavy towns)
• Alcohol laws stricter (some towns prohibit sales)

Boise less affected (diverse enough, LDS minority)

Idaho offers outdoor-paradise Bogus-Basin skiing 16-miles-Boise Sawtooth-Wilderness backpacking Craters-of-the-Moon volcanic-landscape Boise-River floating-through-city Payette-whitewater-rafting Coeur-d'Alene crystal-lake, low-taxes 5.8%-income 6%-sales 0.6%-property versus California-13.3% Oregon-9.9%, conservative-governance gun-friendly constitutional-carry light-regulations pro-business, remote-work-friendly maintaining Seattle-Bay-Area-salaries $150K+ living-affordable saving $50K-yearly but Boise-boom driving housing-crisis: median-home $550K up-57% since-2019 from-$350K outpacing-wages requiring $90K-income 30%-rule, rent $1,600-1,900 up-89% from-$900 teachers-service-workers priced-out, traffic I-84-congested infrastructure-strain schools-overcrowded water-concerns high-desert-aquifer-sustainability. Cultural-tensions locals-resenting transplants "Don't-California-My-Idaho" bumper-stickers fearing progressive-politics high-costs traffic ironically-transplants mostly-conservative fled-California-politics but sheer-numbers changing-Boise breweries food-trucks gentrification versus rural-Idaho remaining deeply-conservative isolated suspicious-outsiders. Find authentic-Idaho: Coeur-d'Alene $550-650K resort-town northern-mountains, Idaho-Falls-Pocatello $350-400K affordable Eastern-Idaho 40%-LDS Mormon-influence family-oriented, Twin-Falls $320K cheapest-rural agricultural determining old-Boise vanishing metro-growth new-Idaho emerging smaller-cities maintaining traditions navigating-identity-shift balancing-growth preservation defining modern-Idaho character.