The Valnova Bowers at sunset above the Eagle foothills, Valnova, Eagle, Idaho

RELOCATION · CITY COMPARISON

Boise vs Meridian vs Eagle vs Star

Four Ada County cities, one table of Census figures, and what each is like to build in.

Boise has the most people and the shortest commutes, Meridian is the large family suburb, Eagle has the highest home values and incomes, and Star is the fastest-growing. Census figures for 2020 to 2024 put median home values at $484,800 in Boise, $531,600 in Meridian, $772,900 in Eagle and $564,300 in Star.

THE NUMBERS

Boise, Meridian, Eagle and Star side by side

All figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau's QuickFacts: population estimates for July 1, 2025 and American Community Survey figures for 2020 to 2024. Medians describe existing homes of every age and size, so treat them as a picture of each city, not a custom home budget. For building costs, read our 2026 cost guide.

Census figures by city (as of 2026)
	Boise	Meridian	Eagle	Star
Population (July 1, 2025 estimate)	238,429	142,988	34,658	20,874
Median owner-occupied home value	$484,800	$531,600	$772,900	$564,300
Median household income	$83,904	$100,795	$122,894	$97,936
Owner-occupied housing rate	63.2%	74.6%	84.1%	80.7%
Mean travel time to work	18.9 min	22.4 min	23.7 min	27.5 min

02 / BOISE

Boise:
the city, with the shortest commute.

Boise is the capital and the valley's center, with a mean commute of 18.9 minutes. It has the lowest owner-occupied rate of the four (63.2%), a sign of a more urban mix of homes and renters. Living here puts you near the Boise River Greenbelt, Julia Davis Park and the road up to Bogus Basin. If you want to build inside city limits, custom homes in Boise start with finding the right parcel, and we can help you evaluate one.

03 / MERIDIAN

Meridian:
the big suburb with big parks.

Meridian, with an estimated 142,988 people, sits just west of Boise and is the largest of the three suburbs here. Its parks are a draw: Settlers Park covers 58 acres with ball fields, tennis and pickleball courts and a splash pad, and Discovery Park adds a skatepark, bike park and pump track. Median household income is $100,795. See what building in Meridian looks like.

04 / EAGLE

Eagle:
foothills, waterfront lots and the highest values.

Eagle has the highest median home value ($772,900) and household income ($122,894) of the four, and 84.1% of homes are owner-occupied. Of these four cities, it is where we build most often: in Valnova in the Eagle foothills and in Terra View, where many lots sit on a pond with private beaches. Eagle Island State Park has a swimming beach and paddleboarding. Start with our page on custom homes in Eagle.

05 / STAR

Star:
fast growth and room to spread out.

Star grew from 11,117 people in the 2020 Census to an estimated 20,874 in July 2025, the fastest growth of the four. Commutes are the longest at 27.5 minutes, and the trade is space: larger lots and a small-town feel, with Pavilion Park's splash pad, pickleball and dog park in town. We have lots in Longbow Estates in Star; see building in Star.

06 / CHOOSING

How to choose if you are
moving from out of state.

Start with your daily routine: where you work, where kids go to school and how often you want to be downtown. Then match it to lot size. If you are deciding from another state, we can walk you through lots in each city on a call; read building in Idaho from out of state and download the relocation guide for checklists. When you are ready, contact us or call 208-577-8794.

A PLACE TO BELONG

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of Idaho.

Beautiful homesites. Extraordinary build opportunities.

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QUESTIONS, ANSWERED

Frequently asked
questions.

Is Meridian cheaper than Boise?

Not by median home value. The Census Bureau puts Meridian's median owner-occupied home value at $531,600 for 2020 to 2024, compared with $484,800 in Boise. Meridian's housing stock is newer and more owner-occupied, which pushes its median up.

Is Meridian considered part of Boise?

No. Meridian is its own city, with 142,988 residents by the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimate. It sits just west of Boise in Ada County, and both are part of the Boise metro area, so people often treat them as one market.

Is Eagle more expensive than Boise?

Yes. Eagle's median owner-occupied home value is $772,900, the highest of the four cities, against $484,800 in Boise, per Census figures for 2020 to 2024. Eagle's median household income, $122,894, is also the highest of the four.

Which of these cities is growing fastest?

Star. It grew from 11,117 residents in the 2020 Census to an estimated 20,874 in July 2025. Eagle grew from 30,346 to an estimated 34,658 over the same period. Growth brings new lots and new schools, and also more construction traffic.

Where does Bachman Custom Homes build?

Across the Treasure Valley and in Garden Valley. In these four cities, our recent homes are mostly in Eagle (Valnova and Terra View), we have lots in Star's Longbow Estates, and we can build on lots you own in Boise and Meridian.

Sources

9 references, all public

Boise vs Meridian vs Eagle vs Star

Boise, Meridian, Eagle and Star side by side

Boise:the city, with the shortest commute.

Meridian:the big suburb with big parks.

Eagle:foothills, waterfront lots and the highest values.

Star:fast growth and room to spread out.

How to choose if you aremoving from out of state.

Find your cornerof Idaho.

Frequently askedquestions.