So you’re moving to Idaho Falls! Congrats! I moved here a year ago from the DC area, and while I had spent a lot of time in Idaho Falls already (my husband is from here), I know that many will be moving here blindly. I’ve noticed a lot of semi-negative responses when people inquire about moving here. Like all places, it has downsides. It is often windy and the winters are long and I am not a fan of chip seal roads. But also like all places, it has positives.
1. Idaho Falls is family-friendly.
If you are coming from a huge metro area, you might assume there isn’t a lot for kids to do here. Idaho Falls has a population of what, 70,000 people? It is a small city, but luckily, because it is also a hub for many small communities, it actually has more activities than many places of comparable size. You’ll find a museum and a children’s art museum, an aquarium, several indoor playgrounds, a zoo, parks, splash pads, and pools. The movie theaters have kids’ days. The city has several family-friendly festivals. Your kids can sign up for almost any activity they have participated in elsewhere. Couple that with a low crime rate and a small-town feel, and you have a great place for raising kids.
2. Idaho Falls has a low cost of living.
Sometimes I’d like to shout this one from the rooftops. My home in a lovely neighborhood in Idaho Falls has a huge yard and is almost double the size of my home an hour away from downtown DC, but it costs significantly less. So while salaries may be generally lower, the cost of living adjustment has definitely been in our favor. All families stress about money, but our stress has been less here. We pay less for gas (since we no longer commute), family activities, and housing. My grocery bill is also lower, but your experience may vary.
3. Idaho Falls is close to the outdoors.
Not only are we fewer than 100 miles from two insanely great national parks, there are tons of state parks, national forests, and other outdoor recreational areas. Whether it’s a short drive to Swan Valley or a day trip to the Sawtooths, you can find incredible nature — often without crowds.
4. Idaho Falls is growing.
The Census Bureau says Idaho is the fastest growing state in the US, and most of that is domestic migration (rather than birthrate). If you despair over not having Chipotle, you might not be waiting long. If you despair over living in a city that grows consistently, I would also point out that Idaho Falls is surrounded by dozens of lovely rural communities.
5. Idaho Falls has possibility.
This is one of the things I like most about Idaho Falls, but the one I can’t explain well. It’s more of a feeling. Things feel possible here. In other places I’ve lived, if I wanted a crosswalk, I hoped the city would eventually get around to it. Here, I feel like I can get involved and make changes happen myself. I never have lived in a place where I thought I could open a business or run for office or really do some good, but Idaho Falls is the kind of place where opportunities exist and are actually reachable for average people. I love that feeling.
There are many more things you could say about Idaho Falls, and yeah, I could complain about the traffic on 17th Street, but I can’t help thinking that the positives outweigh the negatives.
So true! Nice article. I especially like the part about making a difference. That is so true but not something I would Have thought about before!I.F. Is the best city in the nation! So grateful to be here!
Love this Sarah! I felt the same when moving here from the south. I am now the proud owner of The Little Gym of Idaho Falls and things feel good in this small city of endless family activities and exponential growth. I love serving the kids of this community and bringing my kids up in a positive small town environment with a “family friendly feeling”.
I don’t know if this is the place for something like this, but we’re thinking about Idaho Falls and I’ve been trying to research the schools/districts in the area. I’d love to get opinions of Mom’s in the area?