One of the first places developed in Boise Valley, Star was originally a quiet community with not much going on. But like the rest of the area, the population of this once-sleepy town increased significantly over the past few years. "It used to be a drive through town, but now we have amenities that have never been here before, like multiple grocery stores and other stops," says Shantel Teeter with Homes of Idaho and 20-year resident of the state. The city got its name in the late 1800s when a worker carved out a star and placed it on the front door of its new schoolhouse. The star became a landmark for traveling farmers and miners and over time, the town was referred to as Star.
Star has grown tremendously since its second incorporation in 1997. The population went from 500 residents to 16,300 residents today, a 2,415% increase in 26 years. Despite this growth, folks here can expect an intimate, small-town feel where everyone is friendly and knows one another. "You will still see kids riding down the street on a horse and wild turkeys roaming around," Teeter says. "People here still wave with all five fingers and show up for parades and fireworks." Some of the area’s largest employers include the West Ada School District and the Star Mercantile.
Find all your groceries and more at the new Albertsons in Star.
Newly built two story craftsman homes are popping up all over Star.
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Suburban subdivisions and rural farmlands
Star combines both suburban and rural elements. The center of the city feels more suburban, with subdivisions, uniform housing and neat landscaping. As folks head to the city outskirts, it’s more rural with much more farmland and homes with acreage. The median price for a single-family home is $548,800, about $30,000 higher than Boise and nearly $130,000 higher than the national average of $416,700. “Treasure Valley is very up and coming, so housing and prices have grown immensely," Teeter says. "There are a lot of little subdivisions and little communities in Star." Heron River is a popular subdivision for its community amenities and proximity to retail, while other communities like Roselands are surrounded by farms. Homes in Star were primarily built in the 21st century, mostly in the 2020s. These are typically craftsman and contemporary homes. Newer townhouses are congregated toward State Street and Floating Feather Road. The median townhouse price is $391,990, much lower than Boise’s $475,000. Star’s market moves relatively slowly; homes sell after 83 days on average compared to the national of 44 days.
New construction and modern craftsman builds can be found on the west side of Star.
You'll find a good mix of new and old homes in Star.
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Close to Eagle Island State Park
Star’s recreation department maintains five city parks, including Star Riverwalk Park, the primary recreation spot for fishing and walking. "If you head down by the bridge, there is a rope swing that has been there for over two decades," Teeter says. "Kids love to go there to play outside and swing." Freedom Park is the city’s largest and newest park, spanning 82 acres. People go there for fishing, kayaking and paddle boarding. Athletes practice at the Hunter Creek Sports Complex, and dogs get their exercise at the Waggin’ Tails Dog Park. Outside its parks, locals can participate in sports programs or fitness classes.
Eagle Island State Park is a 545-acre park, 3 miles east of town where people can go biking and birdwatching or play disc golf and water sports. Star has more than 4 miles of trails, but the city wants to connect trails to Eagle Island State Park and the south side of the Boise River. Golfers can tee up at the River Birch Golf Course, a public 18-hole course to the north. Bogus Basin, a popular place for skiing and snowboarding, is 32 miles away.
Star River Walk Park is a local fishing hotspot in Star.
Eagle Island State Park beach area.
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Locally-owned shops and chains on Highway 44
State Street, or State Highway 44, is the area’s downtown and retail hub. It’s not necessarily walkable, since it’s also one of the main thoroughfares in town, and its architecture is a mixture of modern buildings and old Western structures. Dining options include a mix of chain restaurants and hometown businesses, primarily American and Mexican restaurants or bakeries. Business growth is rising; at least 20 establishments opened in 2024. Star Mercantile sells gas and groceries, and locals can travel 12 miles south to the Village at Meridian shopping mall.
Locals love the Star Country Cafe located on Hwy 44 in Star.
Stop in at Sea Salt Creamery and Bakeshop in Star for some tasty afternoon treats.
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Served by the largest Idaho school district
Star students can attend the West Ada or Middleton school districts. West Ada School District covers the majority of the city; the A-minus district is the largest in Idaho and ranks in the top five districts in the state. Star Elementary and Star Middle School are within city limits, earning B-plus and A-minus ratings, respectively. Students may attend Owyhee High, a B-plus school that opened in 2021. While there are no higher education options in Star, schools like College of Western Idaho, Idaho State University-Meridian and Treasure Valley Community College are nearby.
Many high schoolers in the community attend Eagle High School.
Younger students attend Star Elementary on N Star Rd.
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Events at the Riverhouse
Star typically puts on small-town events, often at the Riverhouse. Christmas at the Riverdale kicks off the holiday season with a gingerbread house contest, a market and a tree lighting. Summer nights are spent listening to live music during the monthly concert series, and families can watch family-friendly movies at the Star Barn. Neighbors gather for homemade chili options at the annual Chili Cook-Off, and come mid-October, hunters and their families celebrate the start of the season with the annual Pheasant Hunter’s Breakfast.
For those long winter days be sure to check out the Ribbon Ice Rink in nearby Caldwell.
Take the kids to see the fire breathing dragon at the Winter Wonderland in nearby Caldwell.
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Some sections in floodplain areas
Highways 44 and 16 run through the city. Highway 44 provides the most direct route to Downtown Boise, a 17-mile drive. Traffic can be a problem, since the population of the entire Treasure Valley is on the rise. Highway 16 connects drivers to Highway 26, which travels east to west through the area. Interstate 84 is the nearest Interstate just south of the city. The Boise Airport is the closest airport for commercial travel, offering direct flights to 28 Midwest and West Coast cities.
Star has experienced flooding and earthquakes in the past. The Federal Emergency Management Agency declared areas around the Boise River part of the 100-year floodplain, including the area near Linder Road in Star. There is also a special flood zone around the Gulch Creek area and a portion of Foothills Ditch toward the northeast. Star’s climate includes winters with single-digit temperatures and summers with warm temperatures in the 90s.
The Boise river runs swiftly through Star Riverwalk Park providing great runs for fishing.
The Boise river flood plain runs along the southern edge of Star.
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Uptick in crime within last year
Star reported a slight increase in crime in 2023. The crime rate in 2023 was 19.6 crimes per 1,000 residents, a roughly 10% increase from 2022’s 17.7 crimes per 1,000 people. Some of the major upticks came in property and societal crimes; societal crimes doubled in reported offenses, and property crimes saw a 27% increase.
Written By
Courtney Murphy
Photography Contributed By
Chad Jackson
Video By
Luke Basinger
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Amber Stockert,
an experienced agent in this area.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
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On average, homes in Star, ID sell after 75 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Star, ID over the last 12 months is $541,837, consistent with the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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