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Boise has become one of the fastest-growing mid-size cities in the country, and its rental market has adjusted accordingly — rents have risen sharply over the last five years, surprising students who expected affordable mountain-west prices. Boise State University drives most of the student demand, centered around the BSU campus on the Boise River. The North End and BSU-adjacent neighborhoods fill fastest each spring. The city compensates with genuine outdoor access, a walkable downtown, and a bike trail system along the Greenbelt that makes car-free commuting realistic from many neighborhoods.
The primary student zone — walking distance to Boise State's campus, with dense apartment buildings and some older houses converted to student rentals. Fills by February for the following fall.
Boise's most desirable neighborhood — tree-lined streets, walkable, close to downtown and within biking range of BSU. Pricier than near-campus zones but with better quality of life. Popular with upperclassmen and grad students.
More affordable than the North End and BSU corridor, with newer apartments. Bus and bike access to campus is reasonable. The tradeoff is less neighborhood character.
Here's what you need to know about getting around Boise.
Valley Regional Transit buses cover Boise with reasonable frequency along the main corridors. The most useful routes run between BSU, downtown, and the major residential areas. Transit is functional but Boise is not a city where bus-only living is effortless — gaps in frequency and coverage require planning.
The Greenbelt, a 25-mile paved multi-use path along the Boise River, is the backbone of Boise's cycling network. It runs directly past BSU's campus and connects most riverfront neighborhoods. Many students bike to class along the Greenbelt year-round. The North End and near-BSU areas are walkable. Downtown Boise is legitimately bikeable for daily errands.
On-campus parking is available by permit and fills up — most students near campus bike or bus rather than drive. The North End and near-BSU streets have street parking but it tightens during school hours. Neighborhoods further from campus have easy, unrestricted parking.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
Boise has gotten expensive. Shared units near BSU typically run $700-$1,100/mo per person. The North End commands a premium. The market has moved closer to coastal mid-size city pricing than the Mountain West affordability it had a decade ago.
Browse student housing near each Boise-area university.