Boise, ID, otherwise known as “The City of Trees,” is often deemed one of many great destinations to live in the Rocky Mountain West. With its proximity to nature, outstanding restaurants, and infinite ways to spend your days, it shouldn’t be surprising that close to 230,000 people call this city home. As more people move to the state, it’s important to know that the median home sale price is $585,000, and the average rent of a 2-bedroom apartment in Boise is $1,725.
If that price tag doesn’t fit into your budget, don’t worry. We’ve rounded up a list of the nine best affordable Boise suburbs to consider living in – and they’re all under a 55-minute drive from the city. That way, you can live close to Boise and all its unique activities without the price tag of buying a home there.
#1: Melba
Median home price: $237,000
Driving distance from Boise: 35 minutes
Melba, ID homes for sale
Melba, ID apartments for rent
Home to roughly 600 residents, Melba takes first place on our list of the most affordable suburbs in Boise. This charming suburb has a small-town feel, while only being 25 minutes from the larger city of Nampa and 35 minutes from Boise. A fun fact about Melba is that was founded in 1912 by Clayton C. Todd, who named it after his daughter.
#2: Payette
Median home price: $296,000
Driving distance from Boise: 55 minutes
Payette, ID homes for sale
Payette, ID apartments for rent
Payette takes second place on our list. About 55 minutes from Boise, you’ll be touring the Old Idaho Penitentiary State Historic Site in just a quick drive. Home 8,500 people, residents can spend the afternoon touring the Payette County Historical Society and Museum or checking out the charming downtown.
#3: Mountain Home
Median home price: $337,500
Driving distance from Boise: 40 minutes
Mountain Home, ID homes for sale
Mountain Home, ID apartments for rent
Mountain Home, with a median home sale price of $318,500, lands the number three spot on our list as the most affordable Boise suburb. Just about a 40-minute drive from Boise, you won’t miss out on what the city offers. Living in Mountain Home, you can spend time exploring Mountain Home Historical Museum, Desert Canyon Golf Course, or Richard Aguirre Park.
#4: Fruitland
Median home price: $386,000
Driving distance from Boise: 50 minutes
Fruitland, ID homes for sale
Fruitland, ID apartments for rent
Next on our list of affordable Boise suburbs is Fruitland, which is roughly 50 minutes away from the heart of the city. With a population of close to 5,500, living in Fruitland is a great alternative to the hustle and bustle of Boise. If you’re going to call this suburb home, plan time to explore Mesa Park.
#5: Caldwell
Median home price: $423,500
Driving distance from Boise: 25 minutes
Caldwell, ID homes for sale
Caldwell, ID apartments for rent
Caldwell takes the fifth spot on our list, with a median home sale price of 395,000 and only a 25-minute drive away from Boise. There are plenty of picturesque and outdoorsy activities to take part in when living in Caldwell. If you find yourself moving here, make sure to check out Whittenberger Planetarium.
#6: Nampa
Median home price: $428,500
Driving distance from Boise: 20 minutes
Nampa, ID homes for sale
Nampa, ID apartments for rent
About a 20-minute drive into the city, consider adding Nampa to your list of Boise suburbs to consider moving to. Home to 108,500 residents, this affordable suburb can be an excellent choice for people looking to remain close to the city without paying the price for a home there. If you decide to move here, be sure to check out the Nampa Train Depot Museum and the Warhawk Air Museum.
#7: Kuna
Median home price: $472,500
Driving distance from Boise: 20 minutes
Kuna, ID homes for sale
Kuna, ID apartments for rent
Seventh on the list is another well-known Boise suburb, Kuna, where the median home sale price is about $113K less than in Boise. With roughly 27,000 people calling Kuna home, it’s a great area to consider moving to. From Kuna Greenbelt Park to favorite local restaurants, there are countless things to do in this great suburb.
#8: Garden City
Median home price: $508,000
Driving distance from Boise: 5 minutes
Garden City, ID homes for sale
Garden City, ID apartments for rent
With a median home price of 515,00 and only a 5-minute drive to Boise, there are plenty of reasons you may want to move to the suburb of Garden City. The city has Craft Beverage Corridor, lined with wineries and breweries, and the Garden City Artisans Pathway features a variety of artists’ studios. Other popular things to do in Garden City include exploring Idaho Botanical Garden and Heron Park.
#9: Middleton
Median home price: $538,859
Driving distance from Boise: 30 minutes
Middleton, ID homes for sale
Middleton, ID apartments for rent
Living in Boise, it’s likely that you’ve heard of Middleton, the last suburb on our list. Almost 9,800 residents call this affordable suburb home, so you’ll have a fraction of Boise’s population while remaining only 30 minutes from the city. Once moving to Middleton, add the Foote Park to your list of must-sees.
Methodology: Affordability is based on whether a suburb is less than the median sale price of Boise and under a 55-minute drive from downtown Boise. Median home sale price data from the Redfin Data Center during June 2022. Average rental data from Rent.com June 2022. Population data sourced from the United States Census Bureau.
This post first appeared on Redfin.com. To see the original, click here.