West Boise

Once serving as the agricultural heart of Boise, the West Boise neighborhood has evolved over the decades from an apple orchard, with assistance from a railroad, into the residential community it is today.

The suburb is dotted with neighborhood parks, green spaces and schools. Remnants of the early 1900s orchard and farming town remain in the form of Ustick Road, the thoroughfare of Five Mile Road and a handful of original buildings like a bank and an old schoolhouse. The neighborhood is part of the greater Boise metropolitan area encompassing West Boise, Meridian, Nampa, Eagle, Star, Kuna, Caldwell and Middleton – a patch of Idaho that has been dubbed Treasure Valley to reflect its wealth of opportunities and resources.

West Boise residents can choose from a mix of spacious ranch-style homes, Craftsman-inspired designs, simple 1970s single-level houses and more modern construction within master-planned communities. Average lot sizes are up to a full acre and attached garages are common. You can also find spacious remodeled developments throughout West Boise. Homes here vary in pricing, from $52,000, for a two-bed, one bath, 800-square-foot home, to expansive 10-plus room homes valued well over $1 million. However, typically, homes will live in the range $130,000 to $600,000 in West Boise.

West Boise's proximity to shops, schools and dining venues makes it a convenient place to live. You'll find shops and businesses off North Five Mile Road, the home of Maple Tree Plaza shopping center and restaurants along Fairview Avenue, to the south. If you love shopping, admire the latest stores along North Eagle Road. Downtown Boise is also around a 7-mile drive from West Boise. There, you can find a vivid nightlife scene, museums for a weekend out or treat your tastebuds at one of the many restaurants downtown Boise offers. About five miles south, you can go to the Aquarium of Boise, which has more than 30 exhibits and 250-plus species on display. Boise Towne Square, a sizable indoor mall with more than 100 retail stores, is adjacent to the aquarium.

West Boise has more than five parks for residents to enjoy. Soccer, volleyball and field play are easy to access at DeMeyer Park or Hewett Park. Check out local wildlife and waterfowl along the hiking paths surrounding Hyatt Hidden Lakes Reserve, more than 50 acres located in the neighborhood’s northwestern corner that offers a sampling of Idaho’s rugged natural beauty. Jullion Park is ideal for after-school playdates and a short drive to the Boise River Greenbelt, stretching 25 miles for hiking, biking, boating, birding and fishing.

Parents can choose to have children attend public, private or charter schools. Among the many schools include beginning their educational journeys at Cecil D. Andrus Elementary, which sports an A-minus grade by Niche, followed by progressing to Lewis & Clark Middle School, which also has been graded A-minus by Niche, and has a 19-1 student-to-teacher ratio. Teenagers will then make their way to Centennial High School, awarded an A-minus by Niche, which stands out with an impressive B-plus grade in athletics while also offering engaging clubs and activities like Future Farmers of America (FFA), Improv Club, Image Factory and American Sign Language (ASL). Additionally, some schools offer a focused curriculum, such as the choice school Pioneer School of the Arts.

Most residents of West Boise find shopping, work and entertainment options are no more than a 10-mile drive. You can quickly go about your daily errands with convenient access to Interstate 84, to the south, and state Route 26, to the north. Residents also easily commute to downtown Boise, within eight miles, for work. Meridian, Star, Nampa and other communities are similarly situated to the west — making this neighborhood a central location in the Treasure Valley. Public transportation is readily available throughout West Boise using the Valley Regional Transit bus system. You can find bus stops along North Five Mile Road, South Maple Grove Road, McMillan Road and Fairview Avenue.

Photography Contributed By

Chad Jackson

Video By

Zoe Sarris