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Idaho life
ACCRA Cost Of Living Index Fourth Quarter 2003
Idaho links


Idaho life

The city of Boise sits in southwestern Idaho, at the point where desert meets mountain range and rural past meets high-tech future. Outside the capitol city, you don't have to travel far to experience the vast expanse of high desert prairies, skyrocketing mountains capped with snow, lush, green forests or fast moving rivers winding through miles of steep, rocky canyons.

The climate in the Treasure Valley: 4 seasons, dry low humidity, warm climate during the summer and fall. Winter temperatures are relatively mild, with enough annual snowfall to enjoy a variety of winter sports. January: Min. 23.6 / Max 36.7. April: Min 39.4/ Max 61.7. July: Min 60.3 / Max 89.2. October Min 41.3/ Max 64.3. average days of sunshine 234.

The population of Idaho's capital city is 193,000 and growing among the fastest in the nation. The City of Trees remains essentially uncomplicated. And Boise is a fun city - there is always something going on: Street Fairs and Farmers' Markets, downtown gatherings in the Grove featuring live music, food and drink, outdoor cafes, bistros and pubs. You can also just wander the city streets at night in safety as you poke through the art galleries and specialty stores or go dancing.

There is a world of art and culture ready to enjoy year round in Boise: Ballet of Idaho and Idaho Dance Theater, Boise Philharmonic Orchestra. Each year national and international performers and Broadway plays visit our City. Boise Museum is host each year to many nationally and internationally acclaimed artists and exhibits, and sponsor to many community events. Among Boise annual events are Art in the Park in September, Shakespeare Festival, Gene Harris Jazz Festival in April, Boise River Festival in June.

Boise is a city for active, outdoor type people who respect old-fashioned values and like to have fun. Residents fish in the Boise River as it flows through downtown, catching healthy rainbow trout. They run along the Boise River Greenbelt during their lunch hours. They jump into their cars for the short drive to skiing at Bogus Basin, whitewater rafting on nearby rivers or water skiing at Lucky Peak Reservoir. Boiseans also love their parks, especially the series of large riverside parks named after grand ladies in the city's history -- Julia Davis, Ann Morrison and Kathryn Albertson. Boise has nine acres of parks for every 1,000 residents, almost twice the national average.

Mountain biking in Boise was voted number one in the nation. Boise is host each year to the Hewlett Packard's Women's Challenge, the female equivalent to the Tour de France. The race totals 650 miles throughout Idaho, drawing participants from around the world.

White water rafting and kayaking are in a class by themselves, boasting more class 4 and 5 rapids than anywhere else in the USA.

When Boise residents aren't participating in such activities, they're watching sports. Boise State University football is highly popular, but residents also support professional baseball, basketball and hockey teams.

Boise News

www.idahostatesman.com, the local Newspaper
www.2online.com
www.ktvb.com
www.boiseweekly.com


ACCRA Cost Of Living Index Fourth Quarter 2003

The ACCRA Cost Of Living Index measures the relative cost of living among participating areas using the cost of consumer goods and services, excluding taxes. The average for all areas equals 100, and each participant's index figure is read as a percentage of that average. Differences of a few percentage points should not be considered significant in determining the differences in the cost of living between two areas. For example, if city #1 had a composite index value of 105.3 and city #2 had a value of 107.2, there is not a significant difference in the cost of living between the two cities.

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Idaho links

www.cityofboise.org

www.scenicidaho.net

www.boisechamber.org

www.boise.org

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