Jason & Kelli Krafsky
Your Seattle-to-Boise Real Estate Solution
The Treasure Valley
The Treasure Valley reminds us of the Greater Eastside of Seattle as it was 30+ years ago. A vibrant mid-sized metropolitan area that has experienced tremendous population growth, and with a vast amount of undeveloped land, the Treasure Valley has a bright future!
Over the last several decades, Jason has made numerous trips to the Treasure Valley and has always seen the area as a potential future place for us to live. After the first year of COVID-lockdowns in Washington, the future became the present, we made the move, and the Treasure Valley is now our primary residence.
As a high-desert area, the Treasure Valley experiences all four seasons. Rainfall averages only 10 inches a year, snowfall averages about a foot annually, but the sun shines a lot whether it is hot, cold, or somewhere in between.
Below is helpful information, insights, and links on the cities and towns that make up the Treasure Valley: Boise, Meridian, Eagle, Kuna, Star, Middleton, Nampa, and Caldwell.
Sources for data from: US Census Bureau QuickFacts 2020 – collected and rounded data April 2022
BOISE (BOY + see) | A large city with a downtown and several distinct neighborhoods
Boise, ID
View moreBOISE DATA: POPULATION: 236,000 | DENSITY: 2,600 people per square mile | MEDIAN INCOME: $64,000
ABOUT BOISE: Boise is not only the largest city in Idaho, but it is the state capital as well. With the Boise River flowing through the city, and sitting below the Boise Foothills, there are plenty of opportunities for outdoor recreation within and nearby the city. Boise offers a unique living experience and an array of housing options including hillside homes with views, downtown condos, and homes of all ages.
OUR TAKE: We love downtown Boise! It is safe, clean, and easy to walk around. There are a number of great places to eat, drink, and shop. We have enjoyed attending several events at nearby Boise State University, and walking the paths along the river.
BOISE LINKS: City of Boise | Boise Schools | Boise Parks & Rec | Boise Community |
MERIDIAN (MUR + id +ee + uhn) | A well-developed, large suburban city
Meridian, ID
View moreMERIDIAN DATA: POPULATION: 118,000 | DENSITY: 2,800 people per square mile | MEDIAN INCOME: $77,000
ABOUT MERIDIAN Meridian is the second largest city in Idaho and is centrally located in the Treasure Valley. And it is also one of the nation’s best places to live, according to Money Magazine. Meridian has many different subdivisions, some with walking trails, parks, and neighborhood pools.
OUR TAKE Living in Meridian, it seems like you are 20 minutes to everything … Downtown Boise, the Boise Airport, and most neighboring towns. We love being close to a vast array of restaurants, stores, services, and of course, The Village at Meridian outdoor shopping center.
MERIDIAN LINKS City of Meridian | West Ada School District | Kuna School District | Meridian Parks & Rec | Meridian Community |
Eagle (EE + gull) | A place where old town charm and trendy sophistication intersect
Eagle, ID
View moreEAGLE DATA POPULATION: 30,000 | DENSITY: 688 people per square mile | MEDIAN INCOME: $92,000
ABOUT EAGLE: Eagle is a blend of old town charm and trendy sophistication. With easy access to many of the stores and services in Meridian, Eagle has one-of-a-kind restaurants and boutiques that attract people from throughout the Treasure Valley. Eagle has plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities including bike trails, walking trails, river fishing, and golf courses. People who choose to live in Eagle are lured by the estate-like homes on large lots or custom homes on acreage.
OUR TAKE: Eagle has a lot of character to it. The Eagle sign over the main road entering the historic downtown puts an exclamation point on the city’s commitment to preserving their history. But Eagle has also built a modern and sophisticated area of boutique shops, restaurants, and office space. And it works! Many of our favorite dining spots are in Eagle, and catching a view of the Boise River is a guarantee every time we go there.
EAGLE LINKS: City of Eagle | West Ada School District | Boise School District | Eagle Parks & Rec | Eagle Community |
KUNA (KYOO + nuh) | A small country town morphing into a suburban community
Kuna, ID
View moreKUNA DATA POPULATION: 24,000 | DENSITY: 850 people per square mile | MEDIAN INCOME: $70,000
ABOUT KUNA Kuna is a town transitioning from a small, rural agricultural town to an ever-expansive suburban community. A blend of active farmlands and newly built subdivisions of tract homes, Kuna has experienced tremendous population growth in the last decade, and due to its proximity to Boise, it is poised for more expansion in the future. Kuna offers a lot of outdoor activities including the greenbelt, floating Indian Creek, and an abundance of hiking and mountain biking opportunities.
OUR TAKE Kuna seems to change every time we visit. Whether it’s a new housing community under construction, or new restaurants and retail stores popping up, it is morphing before our very eyes. We believe that a massive Active Seniors community that’s being built and the construction of a Meta (formerly Facebook) data center is going to bring another level of change to Kuna.
KUNA LINKS: City of Kuna | Nampa School District | Kuna School District | Kuna Parks & Rec | Kuna Community |
STAR (staar) | A country town for those looking for small town living
Star, ID
View moreSTAR DATA: POPULATION: 11,000 | DENSITY: 1,000 people per square mile | MEDIAN INCOME: $72,000
ABOUT STAR: Star has a prime location in the north part of the Treasure Valley. The small town, which with rapid population and recent housing growth, has kept its small-town appeal and atmosphere. Star is a blend of equestrian properties, new construction subdivisions, and an array of housing from the last century. As a growing, friendly country town, strangers become neighbors, and neighbors become friends.
OUR TAKE: Star is a blend of old and new. And it works! We have been to a number of restaurants and stores in Star and have observed that the “old-timers” and “newbies” want similar things: respect, privacy, and a sense of community. Star has remarkably preserved the old-time charm of yesteryear with the modern respect for small town living.
STAR LINKS: City of Star | West Ada School District | Middleton School District | Star Parks & Rec | Star Community |
MIDDLETON (MID + uhl + tuhn) | A rural community that keeps its small town feel in the midst of growth
Middleton, ID
View moreMIDDLETON DATA: POPULATION: 9,5000 | DENSITY: 977 people per square mile | MEDIAN INCOME: $56,000
ABOUT MIDDLETON: Middleton is the most rural small town in the nine cities of the Treasure Valley. It has easy access to I-84, making it a hop-skip-and-a-jump to any of the other Treasure Valley cities. Farmlands, pastures, livestock are common in Middleton. But so are homes on acreage, new construction tract homes, and older homes from yesteryear. This small town has a big-time dedication to its youth, its senior population, and everyone in-between.
OUR TAKE: Driving around Middleton, it feels like you are in one of those small towns featured in hundreds of movies and TV programs. Not the zombie apocalypse-type movies, but more of a Hallmark special or a wholesome show about life in small town America. The people always seem friendly, polite, and looking out for your best interests. While we don’t get out to Middleton a lot, when we do, it feels a bit like stepping back in time…in a good way.
MIDDLETON LINKS: City of Middleton | Middleton School District | Middleton Parks & Rec | Middleton Community |
CALDWELL (KAWLD + wel) | A growing agricultural community in more ways than one
Caldwell, ID
View moreCALDWELL DATA: POPULATION: 60,000 | DENSITY: 2,100 people per square mile | MEDIAN INCOME: $55,000
ABOUT CALDWELL: Caldwell has its roots in agriculture and has recently blossomed as a destination spot for wineries. Once a small country town, Caldwell is experiencing new growth and revitalization. With lots of year-round community events, including, the Caldwell Night Rodeo, the Canyon County Fair, and the downtown’s Winter Wonderland with over one-million lights, it is no wonder that people are flocking to Caldwell. Much of the future housing growth will be at the doorstep of Caldwell.
OUR TAKE: Indian Creek Plaza in downtown Caldwell is a fun place year-round. It seems like something is always going on there…concerts, ice skating, farmers markets, festivals, and more. Add a bunch of shops, restaurants, and other attractions, we have enjoyed Caldwell every time we have visited.
CALDWELL LINKS: City of Caldwell | Caldwell School District | Vallivue School District | Nampa School District | Caldwell Parks & Rec | Caldwell Community |
NAMPA (NAM + puh) | A medium-sized town with a lot of history
Nampa, ID
View moreNAMPA DATA: POPULATION: 100,000 | DENSITY: 2,600 people per square mile | MEDIAN INCOME: $53,000
ABOUT NAMPA: Nampa has been around for over 140 years and has historical buildings, monumental artifacts, and modern conveniences wrapped up in the general city boundaries. It feels like you are going back in time when you visit Nampa. Not in a bad way. Nampa has a pride for their kids, the youth, and the college students at the local university. And Nampa respects its past, present, and future. Somehow, someway, Nampa preserves its place in history and reserves its place in the future. This is reflected in the types of housing available in this great town.
OUR TAKE: One of our favorite places for adult beverages is in Nampa. But we can’t tell you what it is. You need to message us (and we will tell you). And that’s not all. As the second largest city per square mile in the Treasure Valley and third largest in population, Nampa has everything anyone would want in a “new” hometown ... including a recreational lake for swimming, fishing, and boating.
NAMPA LINKS: City of Nampa | Nampa School District | Vallivue School District | Nampa School District | Kuna School District | Nampa Parks & Rec | Nampa Community |