Moving to Boise with your family? With beautiful views, tons of parks and playgrounds, lots of great schools, and more, Idaho’s capital city has become a popular destination for families. Here are the five best neighborhoods in Boise for families!

• Depot Bench
• Highlands
• North End
• Southeast Boise
• West Bench

Depot Bench

• Home Price: $181,200 median purchase price; $724 median monthly rent
• Crime Rate: Safer than 30% of Boise neighborhoods

Depot Bench is perfect for families with its affordable homes, seven city parks, and access to great schools like Monroe Elementary, Jefferson Elementary, South Junior High, and more! Located just a quick drive away from Boise State University, both students and those employed by the university call this Boise neighborhood home, making this a young, active area to live. Residents of Depot Bench get together to share food, play games, and more during community events like Depot Bench Bash. They can also take advantage of a self-guided walking tour, curated by the Depot Bench Neighborhood Association.

Things to Do in Depot Bench

Catch some scenic views of Downtown Boise while touring historic Boise architecture like the Boise Depot. Try your hand at pickleball or see how many different insect species you can spot as you stroll through the Pollinator Garden at Terry Day Park. Burn off some energy with your four-legged friend and the little ones at Morris Hill Park. Feed goats, name a cockroach, or have a private lion experience just outside the neighborhood at Zoo Boise! Start your morning off with an Iced Cold Brew, Iced Oatmilk Thai Coffee, or House Spicy Ginger Chai Latte from Primal Coffee Boise. Grab an order of Champion Fries, a Bigfoot Roll, or a Smoked Tempe Sandwich at BBQ Vegan fusion restaurant, BBQ4LIFE. Check out the one-and-only German deli in Boise with stables like a Giant Pretzel, Bratwurst, or Schnitzel Sandwich at Das Alpenhaus Delikatessen. Or enjoy a night out while snacking on an order of Sweet Potato Waffle Fries with a Falafel Burger or Power Bowl from Wyld Child.

Highlands

• Home Price: $444,975 median purchase price; $943 median monthly rent
• Crime Rate: Safer than 70% of Boise neighborhoods

Does your family love spending time outdoors? If so, consider living in Boise’s Highlands neighborhood! This highly desirable Boise neighborhood boasts beautifully maintained Mid-Century Modern homes with picturesque views of the Boise Foothills in the background. Highlands hosts a community of highly-educated professionals—many hold executive positions and earn well above the median income in Boise. Families can find great schools like Highlands Elementary School in the neighborhood with others like Hillside Junior High nearby.

Things to Do in Highlands

Run into red foxes, great horned owls, mule deer, and more while hiking your way through Hulls Gulch Reserve to Camel’s Back Park. Explore nature while taking in the beautiful Boise scenery at Bob’s Trailhead. Test out your driver on the 18 holes of Quail Hollow Golf Course, located near the Boise Foothills. Spend hot days lounging around the pool at one of Boise’s membership-only country clubs, Crane Creek Country Club. Fuel up with a Cappuccino, Blended Frappe, or a London Fog from Mocha Moose Coffee. Order classics like Breakfast Burritos, Cheeseburgers, Chicken sandwiches, and more from Hawkins Pac-Out! Munch on a Sake Make Roll, Crane Creek Roll, or New York Style Cheese Pizza from Lulu’s Fine Pizza & Sushi. Or share an order of Poutine, Steamed Crab, and Thunder Monkey Hot Wings while enjoying live music at Highlands Hollow Brewhouse.

North End

• Home Price: $288,917 median purchase price; $782 median monthly rent
• Crime Rate: Safer than 42% of Boise neighborhoods

If you’re looking for a large, walkable neighborhood filled with historic charm in Boise, consider moving to the North End neighborhood with your family! As one of Boise’s most populated and oldest neighborhoods, North End has continued to grow while still preserving its past. Since 1976, the North End Neighborhood Association has hosted some of Boise’s best family-friendly events, making it an attractive home for families looking for a community-centric neighborhood. These festivals range from grand-scale events like the Hyde Park Street Fair—bringing in 40,000 people—to trick-or-treating down highly-decorated streets during Halloween on Harrison Boulevard.

Things to Do in North End

Try to complete the Scavenger Hunt while touring the historic Idaho State Capitol. See if you can spot North End’s wild turkeys, Hazel and Bella, while browsing local shops, restaurants, and more at historic Hyde Park. Help the kids learn how to grow fruit, build soil, or become a beekeeper at the Boise Downtown Teaching Farm! Sign the family up for ski lessons through the Bogus Basin Ski Education Foundation and put your skills to the test at the Bogus Basin ski resort. Try a Vegetarian Chimichanga, Deluxe Tostada, or the Nachos Rancheros at Casa Mexico. Pick up a Tabbouli Salad, Beef Shawarma, or Dolma from the Mazzah Mediterranean Grill. Start off with appetizers like the Hyde Park Pub Pizza Roll, before you have some of the best pizzas in Boise like the Hyde Perk or Joyride from North End Pizza. Or satisfy your sweet tooth with unique treats like a Caramel Apple Sundae, Sierra Mist & Strawberry Float, or Pineapple Malt from Goody’s Soda Fountain.

Southeast Boise

• Home Price: $202,405 median purchase price; $825 median monthly rent
• Crime Rate: Safer than 45% of Boise neighborhoods

If you have an active family, Southeast Boise might be the best place to raise your kids! With the Boise River bordering this neighborhood, living in Southeast Boise provides easy access to fresh air, outdoor recreation, and more. This Boise neighborhood is home to Bown Crossing, an attractive shopping center with boutiques, restaurants, and amenities like the family-favorite Cravin’s Candy Emporium! Southeast Boise is a popular, diverse neighborhood with access to some of Boise’s top-rated schools, like Trail Wind Elementary School and Timberline High School. While Southeast Boise is one of the largest neighborhoods in Boise, families can be found playing on their lawns, walking their dogs down the street, or swapping out books at the Little Free Library.

Things to Do in Southeast Boise

Sign the little ones up for East Boise Youth Baseball and Softball, practice scoring goals on the soccer field, or goof around on the playground at the Simplot Sports Complex. Let your kids and pets run wild, work up a sweat at the outdoor gym, or catch some air on the skateboarding ramps at Bowler Park! Enroll the kids in Ninja Warrior classes at Bodies In Motion. Splash around at the kid-friendly Ivywild Pool. Sample BBQ Duck Quesadillas or Habanero Tequila Ribs while admiring the art at the unique restaurant and museum combination, Barbacoa. Pick up Chicken Momo, Butter Tika Masala, and Vegan Samosas from Mount Everest Momo Cafe. Get a taste of the Diners, Drive-Ins, & Dives-featured Famous Daddy-O Burger or Prime Rib from Westside Drive-In. Or celebrate date night with an order of Idaho Rainbow Trout, Filet Mignon, or Ahi Poke Salad from the Tavern At Bown Crossing.

West Bench

• Home Price: $164,300 median purchase price; $568 median monthly rent
• Crime Rate: Safer than 21% of Boise neighborhoods

West Bench is an affordable neighborhood for families moving to Boise! With budget-friendly prices, many young adults or new-established families hoping to plant roots are able to find single-family homes and two and three-level apartment complexes. Residents spend their evenings playing tennis or cheering on the kids during little league games at Milwaukee Park—or enjoying West Boise Neighborhood Association‘s annual events like Easter Egg Hunts, the West Bench Harvest Festival, and more! Families living in West Bench have a selection of schooling options to send their little ones like Mountain View Elementary School, Morley Nelson Elementary School, or Valley View Elementary School.

Things to Do in West Bench

Stretch out on the grass or play basketball or tennis on the courts at Mountain View Park. Celebrate birthdays, score points on arcade games, and compete with indoor bumper cars at Pojos Family Fun Center. Jump around, rent out the Dart War arena, or play a game of dodgeball at Fly High Boise Trampoline Park. Sign up for classes on sculpting, glazing, and other pottery techniques at The Potter’s Center. Start your day with a Breakfast Burrito or Egg Sandwich from Bad Boy Burgers. If your family can’t decide between Greek or Italian food, pick up a Classic Greek Gyro Sandwich and Roasted Chicken Parmesan Sub, or Chicken Pancetta for lunch at Romio’s Greek & Italian Restaurant. Get your seafood fix with a Salmon Poke Bowl, Boise Roll, or Shrimp Teriyaki Plate from Island Sushi and Ramen. Or order a Traditional Banana Split or the signature Pecan Ball from Delsa’s Ice Cream Parlour for dessert!

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Neighborhood statistics from AreaVibes