5 THINGS I HATE ABOUT LIVING IN IDAHO
Editor's note: This post was written by Isaac Crace, Judit's son and our Idaho-born, third-generation Realtor. These are his firsthand observations after 25 years of living here.
From someone who has lived here his entire life
For every person who loves living in Idaho, there are about five other people who absolutely hate it. The real question is simple. Will you love it, or will you hate it?
I have lived in Idaho my entire life. I am 25 years in, and while I love this state, there are a handful of things that genuinely drive me up a wall.
If you are thinking about moving here, these are the kinds of realities you need to understand before making the jump so you do not end up regretting your move.
Start Here If You Are Researching Idaho
If you are researching what it is really like to live in Idaho, I have written dozens of in depth guides covering moving to Idaho, the cost of living, Boise area communities, and what day to day life is actually like here.
You can explore those here.
Moving to Idaho
Where to Live in Boise
Idaho Is No Longer Cheap (Especially Housing)
One of the first things people notice when they start researching Idaho is how expensive it has become. What throws people off is that it is not expensive across the board.
Food is cheap. Fuel is cheap. Vehicle prices are reasonable. Registration and taxes are some of the lowest in the nation. I recently saw a statistic saying Idaho has the most custom vehicle plates in the entire United States, largely because of how cheap registration costs are here.
Where Idaho has become expensive is land and housing.
Idaho simply is not cheap anymore. Unless you are coming here after selling a home in another state and bringing a large amount of equity with you, homeownership is nowhere near as attainable as it was ten years ago or even five years ago.
To break into the housing market in the Boise area, you realistically need to be around three hundred fifty thousand dollars at a minimum, and ideally closer to four hundred thousand. Even then, you are usually looking at homes on the outskirts of the valley.
If you want to be closer to Boise, Meridian, or Star, you generally need to be north of five hundred thousand before inventory really opens up.
Then there is Eagle, which is easily the most sought after suburb in the Boise area. Last year, the median sales price there was just shy of one million dollars.
If you are selling a home elsewhere and bringing a strong down payment, prices here may not feel that bad. But for people who grew up here, especially first time homebuyers, many are simply priced out.
If you want to see what prices actually look like right now, you can search homes around the Boise area directly on my website. I also break this down in much more detail throughout my Living in Boise and the Treasure Valley guides where I go city by city.
Driving at Night Is Brutal
Driving at night in Idaho is something most people do not think about until they experience it firsthand.
It is extremely dark here. There are very few streetlights, and at night it feels pitch black. Years ago, I was visiting Florida and got pulled over because we were driving with our headlights off and did not even realize it. That experience blew our minds because back home in Idaho, you would never forget to turn your headlights on. You simply would not be able to see anything.
The bigger issue is lane visibility.
At night, especially when it is raining, the road striping can be almost impossible to see. I have had multiple drives where I slowed down to around forty five miles an hour on the interstate during a downpour, hoping I was still in my lane.
That is on the freeway. On some back roads, I have genuinely considered pulling over and waiting until morning because I could not see the road clearly enough to feel safe.
Wildfires and Summer Smoke
Wildfires can be one of the most frustrating parts of living in Idaho, depending on the year.
Most summers are not bad at all. Some years only have a handful of triple digit days and very little smoke in the valley.
The summer of 2024 was the most miserable summer I have ever experienced living here.
We had an entire month of triple digit temperatures and an entire month where the valley was completely filled with wildfire smoke. There were mornings where I woke up feeling like I had spent the entire night sucking down a nasty cigar I found in a gutter.
When fires are close, ash can even fall from the sky. You might not notice it immediately, but if you leave your vehicle parked outside, you will see a fine layer of ash collecting on it.
This is not something that happens every year. I have only seen it that bad a couple times over the last few decades, but it is absolutely something you need to be prepared for if you want to live in Idaho long term.
Extreme Daylight Swings
Because Idaho sits so far north, the difference in daylight between summer and winter is extreme.
In the summer, daylight is incredible. It starts getting light around six in the morning and stays light until close to ten at night. If you love being outside, Idaho summers are hard to beat.
The downside is winter.
In the winter, the sun does not come up until around eight in the morning, and it is dark again by about five thirty. If you are an outdoors person like I am, this can be brutal.
It is cold, dark, and there is not much to do once the sun goes down. Winter can feel long, boring, and mentally draining if you are not prepared for it.
Road Construction Is Constant
In Idaho, we have two seasons. Winter and road construction.
Roads need to be built and repaired, especially with the amount of growth we have seen since COVID. That part makes sense. What frustrates people is the lack of coordination.
The Boise area is laid out mostly in one mile by one mile grids. Right now, the major road one block above me is closed, and the next major road above that is also closed.
Instead of driving straight to my destination, I have to go a mile west, two miles north, and then a mile back east just to get back on track.
That four mile detour may not sound like much, but when you deal with it day after day, it becomes one of the most frustrating parts of daily life here.
Want to Learn More About Living in Idaho?
If you are still researching Idaho and trying to decide if it is the right fit for you, these guides will help you go deeper.
Moving to Idaho
Ultimate Idaho New Construction Guide
Pros and Cons of Living in Idaho
Final Thoughts
Idaho is an incredible place to live, but it is not for everyone.
If you understand these downsides before you move here, you are far less likely to regret your decision. If you move here assuming Idaho is still cheap, easy, and perfect year round, you are probably going to struggle.
If you found value in this, you can watch the Video that inspired this Below
Hi, I'm Isaac Crace. I'm an Idaho native, third-generation Realtor, and I've been covering life in the Boise area on my Moving to Idaho YouTube channel for over five years. If you want to go deeper on any of this, the channel has hundreds of videos covering neighborhoods, cost of living, new construction, and what day to day life here actually looks like.
Unlike most YouTube relocation channels, I'm not just the face in front of the camera passing you off to someone else. If you're moving to Idaho and want help finding your next home, I'm the one who will actually work with you. Call or text me directly at 208-571-5387.
FAQ
Is Idaho still affordable?
Idaho is affordable in some ways. Food, fuel, and registration costs are low. But housing has gotten expensive fast. To buy in the Boise area you realistically need $350,000 minimum, and closer to the city that number climbs well above $500,000.
How bad is wildfire smoke in Idaho?
Most summers are manageable with only a few smoky days. But bad years like 2024 can bring a full month of heavy smoke that fills the entire valley. If you live here long term, you need to be prepared for the years when it gets bad.
What are Idaho winters like?
Idaho winters are cold and dark. The sun rises around 8am and sets by 5:30pm. If you are someone who needs sunlight and outdoor activity to feel good, the long winter months can feel mentally draining.
Is driving in Idaho difficult?
Daytime driving is fine. At night it is a different story. Most roads have very few streetlights, and during rain the lane markings can nearly disappear. If you are coming from a well-lit metro area it will take some getting used to.
Is road construction bad in Idaho?
Yes, especially in the Boise area. Rapid growth since COVID means roads are constantly being built or repaired. Poor coordination means detours are frequent and frustrating for daily commuters.
Is Idaho a good place to live?
For the right person, absolutely. But it is not for everyone. If you go in with realistic expectations about housing costs, winters, and lifestyle differences, you are much more likely to love it here.
Posted by Judit Crace on
Enjoy this blog post? Click here to subscribe for updates
Leave A Comment