Star

— By the Numbers —

  • Year Incorporated: 1905
  • Population: 11,300
  • Median Household Income: $65,282
  • Meidan Rent: $1,590
  • Average Home Value: $440,293
  • People Per Household: 2.98

Driving Distance to Boise: 17 miles

Beautiful, Open Space

About 15 years ago, Star was mostly isolated from the surrounding cities. If you lived in Star, you lived “out in the country.” Since then, the county extended Highway 16, connecting Star to Meridian, and several new subdivisions have sprung up. Now this beautiful rural area is more accessible than ever.

Star is still small, with just under 10,000 people. The Star Mercantile, which opened in 1919, is the main store and offers everything from lumber to milk. There are a handful of restaurants and a few small businesses in town, and a recently opened Bi-Mart was big news. But it’s just 15-40 minutes to anywhere in the Valley. Downtown Boise is just over 30 minutes away, and it’s only 15 minutes to Costco in Nampa or 20 minutes to the WinCo grocery store in Eagle.

The Perfect Place to Plant Your Roots

Star’s friendly hometown atmosphere and country setting make it an ideal place to live and raise a family. The strong community feel and fun events make new residents excited to get involved. River Walk Park is a gem only the locals know about and is still quiet and pristine. Locally owned restaurants like Sully’s and Star Country Café make you feel like part of the family.

It’s fun to shop the quirky stores along State Street. You’ll also find kids big and small at the local skate park and outdoor summer movies in the park. Because of Star’s size, crime is almost non-existent, so you always feel safe out running or walking your dog. And you’ll have a good chance of running into the Mayor while pumping gas.

Star is everything you’d want in a country setting and more. It delivers an authentic smalltown life with friendly neighbors, traditional festivals, and the absolute best Fourth of July fireworks show in the Valley

Brightest Jewel in the Gem State

Real estate agents and locals alike are keeping an eye on Star. It’s a growing community with several attractive subdivisions springing up, which are sure to attract more businesses and conveniences.

Housing prices are low compared to Boise, more in line with Meridian prices. Many homes offer stunning views of the surrounding mountain ranges. Squaw Butte is to the north, the Boise foothills to the east, and the Owyhee Mountains to the south.

You may also be able to take advantage of the Rural Development Loan in this area. In a nutshell, this USDA Home Loan finances 100% of your home’s purchase price with no down payment. There are a lot of steps to go through and not everyone qualifies, but the fact that it’s available is amazing!

If you’re looking for a quiet country setting with all the homegrown goodness of a small town, then Star is where you’ll want to plant your roots.

Built for Business

Meridian is booming with rapidly growing companies, organizations, and industries. Careful planning and development between the City of Meridian and Idaho State University has resulted in Meridian’s Medical Core. This has set Meridian on the road to becoming one of the nation’s elite health-and-science industry hubs. Meridian is home to Blue Cross of Idaho, St. Luke’s full-service acute-care campus, ISU’s Meridian Health Science Center, and Idaho’s first medical school – Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine (ICOM) – which started instruction in 2018. The addition of ICOM to Meridian’s medical core is expected to attract a wealth of new businesses, employ more than 90 senior instructors, and train physicians to care for people in a five-state region.

Along with the health-and-science industry boom, Meridian is the center of retail and commercial development. Hundreds of retail merchants, professional services, and recreation venues are seeing the value of doing business in Meridian. It’s easy to attract good employees with its convenient access to Interstate 84 and Highway 55, the proximity to outdoor recreation, low cost of living, excellent schools, and beautiful neighborhoods.

Meridian is a thriving community, centrally located in the Treasure Valley. It’s easy to see why it is the fastest growing city in the state of Idaho.

Available Homes in Star