Hey guys, the wife has added Idaho to our list of places to move. We have a couple relatives (panhandle and SW region). They've given us some insight, but are there cons we should be considering? What don't you like about Idaho? Politics, water issues, weather?

Thanks!

Not to thread jack, but why are there so many Texans here? I am new from Texas, but my move was job related.

Yeah, those Texas guys...  Wife and I are just looking for somewhere new, we've been here in Texas for the past 7+ years now, want to try out other places before we venture out of country.

I don't mind the cold, just put on a jacket.  Guessing it can vary a little depending where you live, my aunt that lives up in the panhandle says it's relatively mild weather there (of course what's mild to her lol).

Same aunt actually mentioned that Idaho was too conservative for her guess her and her husband lean liberal for some crazy reason, think she's rebelling still against the rest of her family.  I've got her looking for places in the area, put her to work at least.

All good stuff to know, think we're planning a trip up to the area soon, maybe swing by Wyoming on the way to check it out as well.

Thanks!

If you're considering the Panhandle don't be surprised when you can have snow anytime from Oct-May/June  

I was in freshly fallen snow Sept 24th last year and have a trail camera picture of an elk with snow on its back from May 23rd

We don't get 300 days of sunshine up here, so don't think you're going to have clear mountain vistas everyday

Yeah, I'm less on the lookout for views (when it's sunny outside I wouldn't mind them ), just somewhere nice and quiet, maybe have a few goats, grow a few veggies, do a little hunting.

N. Idaho is overrun and all hunted out, decimated by wolves.  Best to stick w/S. Idaho.

Don't forget about grizzly bears

S. Idaho is overrun by Californians and Texans.  Best stick to Utah.

Air in Treasure Valley (Boise) is crappy.  Shopping everywhere else sucks.

I was born in Sun Valley, and raised in Challis.  I attended Challis schools from Kindergarten through 12th grade, and didn't even know what AP classes were until I got to college.  If you have school aged children, then understand that unless you ensure that they attend a large high school they may not have access to the same educational opportunities offered to some of their college peers.  That may or may not be important to you, but it was a noticeable difference for me.

That said, I left Challis nearly 20 years ago.  Things may have changed, but it's something I'd look into if you'll be putting your kids in ID schools.

Nope, all good on the kid front.  One is done with HS, other will be done next year.  They may or may not make the trip with us

In that case, go for it.  No good reason not to.

I haven't really seen any cons to living here.  Compared to other places I've lived, I'd say Idaho is a paradise.  The schools aren't bad, but I've seen worse.  There is a definite clash of cultures here.  One being the state is a farming and rural culture and the recent influx of people from urban areas.  These types of people do not get along well.  The natives consider anyone who has lived here for less than 20 years an outside agitator and the recent implants consider many of the natives as backwards aboriginies.

The natives resent the change the tranplants want to impose and feel its a threat to their way of life.  I can understand that.  Some nimrod who sells his 980 sq foot house in California and moves here and buys a McMansion.  Then they think they have a right to look down on how the locals live and operate when they have been doing it without any problem for generations.  Personally I can't stand how these newcomers view the natives and how they try to force change here.  They are going after our hunting and shooting areas.  They complain when we go off roading.  They complain about anything and everything that isnt just like how it was where they came from.  Well, it's Idaho and thats how it's been, get over it.  Go back to California, we could do without many of them here.  

As far as the weather is concerned, it gets cold here.  Dress for the weather.  The sun, you may not see it for days at a time depending on the weather.  It doesn't rain much here, when it does, its awesome.  Personally, I think the climate where I'm at in Idaho is great.  Low humidity in the summer coupled with less rain and a somewhat cold winter isn't too bad.  

If you're a hunter, you will find our state even with the issues we have concerning our game, you will love it.  If you hike, fish or camp you will find this to be heaven.

Once you find yourself here, you will come to love it here.  I know I do.

Yeah I don't really understand people that move to a state/country and then try to change it to be like where they came from (I wrote a paper on this back in high school...think my teacher disliked it ), baffles me.

The education I did get was pretty damn good for as small as my hometown is.  Hell, I was able to take 3 years of Latin.  That's something you don't find in many schools.  However, we did not have access to AP or dual-enrollment classes, which can provide a HUGE step up when you get to college.


I can't stress how true all of this is.  If I could provide my family with everything I want to while living in ID, I'd be there in a heartbeat.

Yes, there might be a negative side to Idaho . . . way too much space to shoot guns, legally.  That is, if you're anti-gun :).

Too many wolves, state controlled liquor stores, (no Everclear), no legal gambling (Vegas style casinos), too many transplants, no open season on liberals .

there's a reason you never see this sticker in teh hills:

I've heard liberalism is a mental disorder.  We had a lady at work catch the crazy and when we escorted her off the property she had that very sticker on her back bumper.  Proof positive I'd say.

You will need to bring your own money or biz.  This one of the best states to buy your labor.  It's not the best labor.  If you are going to retire here remember, it's cold and windy and cloudy.  You mentioned growing some veggies, good luck with that.  There is a reason people eat meat and potatoes here.  Did I mention the cold?  Stuff freezes here...while they are alive.  The people here are "cliquish", why would they give YOU something when they could give it to their RELATIVES or church members?  Do you have STUFF?  Lots of people want YOUR stuff.  BUT, if you have the same mindset and not bitch about the way things are done in your area then, maybe.  I know, this is all negative but you will need to be prepared for it.

Grew up 20+ years in CDA. Couldn't wait to get out. Now I wish I had property there to flee to.

My biggest complaints are the roads suck, at least north of Moscow, and it's a PITA to fly in and out of Idaho.

But I like snow, too. Not just for playing in, but it sends the riffraff back south (CA) after one winter. If you don't like snow...it's probably not for you.

We are all full up, and then some on Californians.
The roads suck no matter where you go in Idaho..That is just the facts of a low population density and one of the lowest wage-workforce in the US.
Right to work state- Neither good, nor bad in my mind..Others might disagree.
Depending on your career, this could be a good or bad area for jobs.. If you like making McMinimum, then you have found Nirvana! (Not really true..there are good jobs if you network, etc)

If you have more pointed questions..ask..I know not everyone lists the cities in which they live, so I may be able to give some insight to the Southern ID (Boise area) local. Probably even Twin Falls area..Lived there for many years as well.

This is a blessing in disguise.  it's what keeps all the Boisians out of N. Idaho.  Hwy 95 is a two lane goat trail and they have no idea there is a world north of McCall.  To them its all just Canada.
It says something to note that the easiest way to get from N. Idaho to S.Idaho is to go through WA and OR.

Hahaahaha. This is so true it's hysterical. There is literally an artificial state line just north of McCall. I live in Boise and if I speak to a common "Boisian" about Grangeville or even Riggins they stare at me like I have a dick on my forehead. I've actually had to explain that Sandpoint is not Sand Hollow....

Just have to say, Reading this hometown forum makes me love ID even more. Grew up in Moscow and moved away during mid-20s. Traveled all over the world and country for work. 3 years ago I got married, 2 yrs ago I up and quit my job and moved back (Lewiston) and couldn't be happier to be raising my 2 month old son here. North Idaho is still the "land of the free", or at least better then anywhere else besides maybe WYO/AK. I have had multiple job offers in Crappyfornia. I politely tell the prospective employer that I wont live in a place where 90% of my firearms are contraband and everything gives you cancer; that shit just hurts my head.

www.NOR-ID.com

Moved to the Boise area from Texas. Best decision of my life.
Idaho is everything Texas wishes it could be.. Open carry, couple
of hundred thousand acres to hunt  / shoot on for free, Utility bills
are cheaper than Tx. and food is cheaper here.
Texas has become a Blue state so I am thankful to be here in Gunland.

True that.

Hi Ryan

Hi John Fancy meeting you here.

Im originally from St. Maries, ID. I love that town. If the USMC hadnt moved me out here to f'n Virginia and if there was any job market to speak of, I would be back there.

Not in north Idaho, HEB is still winning on price in most categories

But the produce is awesome and the grocery stores are super nice and so are the people.

I'll hijack this to ask about Genesee, ID. Lived south of there in Strangeville when I was in grade school, but don't remember going to Genesee ever. What's that area like? I'm thinking of applying for a job there.

Genesee, is straight up small town, smack dab in the middle of the Palouse.  Imagine farm land as far as the eye can see.  It's about halfway between Lewiston and Moscow.  What would you be doing, besides shooting coyote, deer, elk and drinking? (Not that there is anything wrong with that, but you gotta make money somehow.)

I've always enjoyed my trips to Genesee.  

I have traveled all around the West, South East US. Born and raised in California (Bay Area), lived some time in Southern Oregon, the Army stationed me in North Carolina, Germany, and Texas before sending me to the Boise, Idaho area.

Of all the places I have been to, or lived, Boise is the best compromise. I hate to use that word, but it's the closest thing to a perfect place.

The city/metro area is not too big, not too small. Weather is 4 seasons, but not extreme. Endless public lands, the chance to get away from people, etc. Gun laws are great. Cost of living is cheap. Low crime. Mostly my "targeted demographic".  If you like/want to travel around the West, its perfect. Almost everything is a days drive. Bay Area, Oregon Coast, Seattle, Canada, Yellowstone, etc.

The only downsides is the job market, and if you like "cosmopolitan" things like great independent places to eat, etc. Wife's profession (Dental Hygiene) is saturated, but luckily she makes enough per hour that she does not have to work full time... And the big cities that are nice to visit are a weekend trip.

Forgive me resuscitating this old thread back to life, but reading through the comments here I keep seeing "cold" and "snow" come up. I understand it is a northern state but can someone elaborate on the weather in the Idaho Falls / Ammon area? How long and rough are the winters there, is there a LOT of snow, and just how cold are we talking? We're born and raised desert folks from Arizona and I've done research as far as historical weather data and such is concerned but I'd like to actually hear it from the mouths of residents instead of a spreadsheet.

Also, no one has covered the topic of pests... is there a big tick problem or abundance of other dangerous critters? We have young kids and dogs and some of the areas we've visited are so inundated with ticks, bedbugs, fleas, etc. that we'd never be able to get past that.

Thanks for any and all replies. And don't worry, we're extremely conservative and really just want to move away from AZ to be left alone. We need some space, places to hunt and shoot without breaking laws and catching half the state on fire, raise a family, etc.

In the Idaho Falls/Ammon area, it isn't the snow or cold alone that will get you...It's the wind.  it never stops and it only exacerbates the cold/snow.

+50mph