Boise metro, ID relocation guide
Moving to Idaho City, ID
About Idaho City
Idaho City is the Boise County seat and the Treasure Valley's best-known gold-rush town — about 480 residents today, but with an 1864 population of 7,000 that made it the largest city in the Northwest (bigger than Portland). Founded in December 1862 as "Bannock" during the Boise Basin gold rush, it boomed to 200+ businesses — dozens of saloons, law offices, theaters, breweries — and the Boise Basin ultimately yielded more than 2.9 million ounces of gold (worth $1–2 billion in 1980s prices). Fires in 1865, 1867, 1868, and 1871 repeatedly leveled the town; the surviving 1860s brick buildings are preserved as a historic district (designated 1975), including the 1865 Masonic Temple (oldest Masonic hall west of the Mississippi still in use), the 1867 post office (now the Boise Basin Museum), and Boot Hill Cemetery. The modern economy runs on hunting/fishing tourism, day-trippers from Boise, and natural hot springs.
Home prices in Idaho City
The median listing price in Idaho City is $509,450.
Top places in Idaho City
- Idaho City Historic District — preserved 1860s buildings, boardwalks, scavenger hunts, guided walking tours.
- Boise Basin Museum — mining-era artifacts (gold scales, blackjack table, guns) in the 1867 post office.
- Idaho City Masonic Temple — 1865, oldest Masonic hall west of the Mississippi still in use.
- Boot Hill Cemetery — gold-rush-era gravesites.
- Boise National Forest — surrounding trails, hunting, fishing, and ATV access.
- Hot springs — natural soaking pools in and around town.
- SH-21 Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway — mountain drive toward Stanley.
Commuting from Idaho City
- No rail transit in the Boise metro — commutes are by car; no Valley Regional Transit mountain service.
- Idaho City is 36 miles northeast of Boise on SH-21 (Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway); the drive to downtown Boise is approximately 45–50 minutes.
- SH-21 continues over Banner Summit toward the Sawtooths and Stanley.
Idaho City FAQs
- What is the housing market like in Idaho City, ID?
The median listing price in Idaho City is $509,450. Median listing price (September 2026 research snapshot) - How is the commute from Idaho City, ID?
No rail transit in the Boise metro — commutes are by car; no Valley Regional Transit mountain service.
Town links
Schools
Official town resources. School report cards via the National Center for Education Statistics.