Around Southwestern Idaho: Economic activity, May 2025

Jan Roeser, regional economist
Idaho Department of Labor
(208) 696-2172

Regional labor market information

Southwestern Idaho’s single-family home sales – April 2024 and 2025

Median price sold20252024Change
Ada$545,821$555,000-1.7%
Adams$475,000$467,0001.7%
Boise$537,450$512,900 4.8%
Canyon$415,000$430,000-3.5%
Elmore$362,990$359,9900.8%
Gem$470,000$514,950-8.7%
Owyhee$350,000$429,250-18.5%
Payette$389,322$360,9997.8%
Valley$830,000$804,0003.2%
Washington$321,449$300,0007.1%
Source: Intermountain Multiple Listing Service
Figure 1b.
Days on market20252024Change
Ada40378.1%
Adams30947557.4%
Boise755244.2%
Canyon4850-4.0%
Elmore664353.5%
Gem564427.3%
Owyhee2942-31.0%
Payette966547.7%
Valley1077640.8%
Washington5520175.0%
Regional average days884885.1%
Source: Intermountain Multiple Listing Service
Figure 1c.
Inventory20252024Change
Ada1,8901,39435.6%
Adams31296.9%
Boise1198736.8%
Canyon1,13595319.1%
Elmore1398073.8%
Gem1188932.6%
Owyhee24229.1%
Payette1091026.9%
Valley13110821.3%
Washington4561-26.2%
Regional totals3,7412,92527.9%
Source: Intermountain Multiple Listing Service
Figure 1d.
Total homes sold20252024Change
Ada742755-1.7%
Adams15-80.0%
Boise10666.7%
Canyon49542915.4%
Elmore37355.7%
Gem2530-16.7%
Owyhee58-37.5%
Payette442763.0%
Valley157114.3%
Washington89-11.1%
SW sold and % change1,3821,3115.4%
Source: Intermountain Multiple Listing Service
Figure 2.
Southwestern Idaho job postingsApr-24Aprr-25% change# change
Unique postings9,97811,03310.6%1,055
Days posted11110.0%0
Number of employers2,7472,7961.8%49
Advertised wage$23.69$27.3815.6%$3.69
Share wage advertisements43%51%18.6%8%
Source: Help Wanted Online data via Lightcast
Figure 3.
Top 10 occupations by unique job postings in southwestern IdahoPostings, Apr-25Postings, Apr-24Year over year % change
Registered nurses35831513.7%
Retail salespersons272304-10.5%
Customer service representatives25317247.1%
Sales representatives, wholesale, manufacturing, except technical and scientific products22619118.3%
Trailer-tractor truck drivers21615143.0%
Software developers172186-7.5%
Janitors and cleaners13512012.5%
First-line supervisors of retail sales workers131152-13.8%
Project managers1301133.5%
Business development and sales managers117710.0%
Source: Help Wanted Online data via Lightcast

Regional news

Educational bonds and levies

  • Middleton School District’s $19.9 million bond achieved 53% of the voters’ support but did not meet the super majority of required votes — nearly 67%. This is the 7th failed bond for the school district that has two of its three elementary schools over capacity while the third is at 90%. Voter turnout was low at 11% of registered voters. Leadership indicated the need is not going away. In 2024, Middleton was the 8th fastest growing city in Idaho, with an average growth rate of 5% over the last four years. Source: Vintage 2024 Population Estimates Program, U.S. Census Bureau, Idaho Education News
  • Fruitland voters passed a $1.8 million, two-year levy with 56% support — a simple majority was required. Fruitland High School will gain a new math curriculum, security enhancements, adding air conditioning, renovations to the gym and its track and field facilities. The middle school will also gain necessary air conditioning. The levy costs taxpayers $40 per $100,000 assessed property value after state property tax relief. Source: Idaho Education News
  • Horseshoe Bend passed a $600,000, two-year levy, with 61% approval. This funding will be utilized across the school district for needs that include a preschool program, facilities updates and maintenance, technology, curriculum and a school resource officer among other requisites. The levy costs $68 per $100,000 assessed property value before state property tax relief. Source: Idaho Education News
  • New Plymouth passed a $700,000, two-year levy with 72% support from voters. The levy pays for teachers and support staff, along with a new school bus, instructional and athletic supplies. It will cost taxpayers $39 per $100,000 assessed value before state property tax relief. Source: Idaho Education News
  • Parma School District passed a $1.3 million, two-year levy with 65% of voter approval. The funding covers two new school buses, staff salaries, teacher salaries, coaching stipends, a school resource officer, counselor, heating, ventilation and air conditioning repairs and extracurricular transportation. Source: Idaho Education News
  • Vallivue School District patrons approved a $14 million, two-year levy with 62% support. The largest impact from the levy is for teacher and staff salaries. Other funding goes toward enhancement programs, transportation, technology, devices support and classroom curriculum. The levy costs the taxpayer $65 per $100,000 of assessed property value before the state property tax relief. Source: Idaho Education News                   

Municipal levies

  • Fire district levies failed in the combined district serving the Middleton and Star communities, both ballots were for $2.23 million towards permanent override levies for each community. Both communities voted while neither the requisite super majority of 66.67% for the third time with Middleton garnering 51.1% support and Star receiving 54.7% support. The Middleton levy would have resulted in a $61.72 increase per $100,000 of assessed property value. The Star increase would have resulted in an additional $44.79 per $100,000 of assessed property value. The permanent override levies will likely be presented to the voters again with a new fire station nearing completion of construction and a new fire truck. Yet, the district has no funding to hire 9 to12 firefighters. Source: Idaho Press
  • Canyon County voters passed a temporary override levy of $7.9 million to fund the Canyon County Ambulance District requiring a simple majority achieved with 58.1% approval. This comes after two attempts to pass permanent override levies failed in 2024 when a super majority was not achieved. Funds will go towards building a new station or renovation in partnership with St. Alphonsus Health System. It will fund the hiring of seven paramedics, purchasing a new ambulance, replacing outdated medical equipment and more. The levy adds $18.62 per $100,000 assessed property value. The temporary status of the levy means it will return to the voters every two years. Source: Idaho Press

Ada County

  • A celebration was held in honor of the Italian consulate office opening in Boise. The Honorary Consul of Italy in Idaho was introduced along with other dignitaries staffing the consul in San Francisco. The office will work towards advancing business interests between Italy and Boise. It will also provide visa, passport and fingerprinting services for travelers. Source: Idaho Press

Canyon County

  • Northwest Nazarene University (NNU) received a grant award of $337,000 from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust to establish a training and mentorship program between NNU faculty and local high school science teachers. The impact will cover four years and will liaison eight faculty members in disciplines such as biology, chemistry and engineering with nine high school science teachers. Two sets of three teachers will participate in two consecutive summers of research sessions with the NNU faculty. The teachers will have an opportunity to present their work at future academic conferences and to apply for supply grants worth up to $5,000. Source: Idaho Business Review
  • The Caldwell Night Rodeo is investing $7 million over three years for an upgraded facility. The first phase will be completed in time for the rodeo this summer with the installation of a Jumbotron screen, new speakers and a new announcer’s box. The second phase will be incorporated next summer with double-faced skyboxes that allow spectators to take in a College of Idaho football game on an adjacent field. The third phase will add an additional 500 seats for the public. Source: KTVB News
  • A new family medicine residency program is starting this summer at St. Alphonsus Hospital in Nampa. After years of planning, six resident physicians will begin training with the hope of retaining these residents after completion of the program. Based on research findings, most residents settle within 100 miles of where they trained. Idaho is usually towards the bottom of most studies showing physician concentrations. Source: Idaho Business Review
  • The Idaho Department of Labor hosted a trade industry fair for employers seeking workers across a variety of occupations including electricians, painters, linemen, wastewater engineers and construction workers. Source: Idaho Capital Sun

Gem County

  • The Emmett School District announced the launch of an online school option for its students. It offers three learning formats coined fully online instruction, hybrid learning and home-based education support. The school already has an online option for sixth through12th grade, but this new academy will include elementary students. Emmett School District has already received 70 inquiries into the program including existing homeschooling families. Source: KTVB News

Valley County

  • The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued the discharge permit to Perpetua Resources Corporation for its Stibnite Gold Project. This does not authorize the mining operations yet as there is at least one lawsuit filed against the previous U.S. Forest Service approval but also the federal agency must approve the plan of operations. The CEO estimates the mine would generate over $1 billion in economic impact for Valley County. Source: KTVB News
  • The Idaho Transportation Department announced maintenance work on Highway 55’s Rainbow Bridge spanning the Payette River. The project will continue throughout the summer with one lane travel, except for holiday weekends when the two lanes will be reinstated, although with much narrower lanes. There will also be flaggers on the river for the safety of those rafting beneath the bridge. Source: Idaho News 6

Openings

  • La Catracha opened its Central American food restaurant in Boise. Source: Idaho Statesman
  • North Italia opened in The Village at Meridian. It is in the former Twig’s space and is a company owned by The Cheesecake Factory. It has 45 other locations nationwide. Source: Idaho Statesman
  • Zullee Mediterranean opened a second Idaho restaurant in Nampa in a space formerly occupied by QDOBA Mexican Eats. It moved its corporate office from Washington to Boise after achieving success with its first restaurant in The Village at Meridian. Source: Idaho Statesman
  • First Watch, a new ‘favorite’ brunch restaurant opened in Meridian. A second Meridian restaurant is planned for later this year. Source: Idaho Statesman
  • Hemlock opened in Boise’s Inn at 500. It is defined as a non-traditional steakhouse. The dress code is casual, come-as-you-are and the table-prepared sides will be a new experience for Boise diners. The restauranter also operates Spitfire Tacos + Tequila in Eagle. Source: Idaho Business Review
  • Candela Viva moved from a food truck to its space in the Boise Town Square Mall’s food court. It offers Columbian cuisine and is found in the former Good Burger spot. Source: Idaho Statesman
  • The Ada County Landfill hosted a ribbon cutting for its new renewable natural gas facility. It was developed and will be operated by Texas-based Biogas Development as it pulls the methane gas from the landfill, keeping it out of the atmosphere. Methane gas is naturally produced by the decomposition of organic materials. It is piped into the new facility and cleaned to pipeline quality gas with production expected to provide natural gas for 15,000-20,000 homes. The county will receive an estimated $1 million in royalties from Biogas Development. Source: KTVB News 

Closures

  • Lucky Perk Coffee closed its second to last coffee shop in Meridian after 22 years, originally branded as Moxie Java then relabeling in 2013. At its peak, there were six Lucky Perks across the Treasure Valley and Mountain Home. The remaining shop and trailer are in Meridian. Source: Idaho Statesman
  • Deli George is closing temporarily as it moves to a new location — the former Woodland Empire Brewery in downtown Boise. The move was precipitated by a significant hike in the lease price. The restaurant had been at its location for 28 years. Source: Idaho Statesman
  • Zeppole Café & Espresso Bar officially shuttered allowing the owner/operator to focus on the other restaurant that is larger and has more foot traffic, as well as the wholesale commercial bakery located in southeast Boise. The STIL announced it will fill the small space with its novelty ice cream products later this summer. Source: Idaho Statesman
  • Bosnia Express announced it will close its combo sandwich shop and grocery store. It has been doing business for 20 years in Boise. Source: Idaho Statesman

Layoffs

  • Earlier this year, Clearwater Analytics, a Boise based software firm, acquired Enfusion in a $1.5 billion purchase. Both companies provide software support for investment managers, while Enfusion emphasized hedge fund reporting. The company stated at the time of purchase “with the acquisition, there will be staffing efficiencies achieved amounting to about $20 million in savings, to be delivered over two and a half years.” According to the company, there have been organizational changes to position the company for long-term growth but will not confirm the type or number of layoffs. Source: Idaho Statesman

This Idaho Department of Labor project is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor for SFY25 as part of the Workforce Information grant (40%) and state/nonfederal funds (60%) totaling $885,703.

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