News Release

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May 5, 2006

Boise State Report Looks at Quality of Life in the Treasure Valley Region

A comprehensive state of the region report released by the Institute for Urban and Regional Planning at Boise State University looks at the competitiveness and quality of life of the Treasure Valley. The report on the Boise Metropolitan Statistical Area is the first to look collectively at the total region defined in 2003 as the counties of Ada, Boise, Canyon, Gem and Owyhee.

A total of 49 indicators were analyzed in order to compile a clear picture of the area. The Boise MSA was then compared to 14 other metropolitan regions in the West in areas ranging from population density to crime rates to the number of library books checked out annually. Each section of the report defines the indicator, explains why it matters and gives a snapshot of regional performance.

“You can’t manage what you don’t measure,” said Michael Blankenship, dean of the College of Social Sciences and Public Affairs at Boise State. “We had a little trend data, but we would like to continue into the future so we can look at the trends that are emerging in the Treasure Valley.”

Blankenship said the university plans to make this a biennial project; during alternating years the Institute for Urban and Regional Planning will focus on some of the topical areas contained in the full report. “It’s taken more than 100 years to reach a population of 600,000,” he said. “That number will double within the next 25 years. We need to have data in order to be ready for that and to manage some of the issues.”

A few highlights of the report follow:
    From 1990-2000, the Boise MSA posting a 110.1 percent increase in population. During that same time period, growth was recorded at 56 percent in terms of land area and population density increased by 34.8 percent.
    In 2005, Boise ranked fifth in its percentage of population that is white (88.4 percent). Coeur d’Alene was first with 95.3 percent and San Jose, Calif., was the most diverse of the study populations with about half of its population white.
    Boise was 10th in median household income at $56,400. San Jose was first with $93,900. However, the median sales price for a home in Boise was $205,000 compared to $645,000 in San Jose.
    On the issue of surface water quality, only half the region’s streams and rivers have been assessed. Of those, only 13.9 percent fully meet the state’s water quality standards.
    Although the number of acres of farmland decreased by 15 percent across the region between 1987 and 2002, the number of farms increased by 14 percent over that same time period.
    Boise remains below average in terms of the number of murders and aggravated assaults at 2.6 and 207 per 100,000 respectively for 2003; Albuquerque, N.M. led in both these areas that year with 3.3 and 244 per 100,000.
    The region’s school district revenue is close to the state average of 30 percent from local sources, such as property taxes, and 60 percent from state sources. Nationally, those percentages are 40 percent local and 49 percent state.
The region’s high school dropout rate for 2005 was .99 percent, compared to .93 percent statewide and about 10 percent nationally.
    Area residents can enjoy a number of family outings (defined as two adults and two children) ranging in price from $12 for a trip to the Botanical Gardens to $88 for a day at the Roaring Springs water park.
    Library use by regional residents, averaging 7.5 books per year, was less than the state rate of 8.1 books per capita. However, Ada and Gem counties both exceeded that number, with 9.1 for Ada County and 10.7 for Gem County.

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For a complete copy of the report, e-mail kcraven@boisestate.edu.

Contact: Greg Hill, Department, (208) 426-2917, greghill@boisestate.edu 
Media Contact: Kathleen Craven, University Communications, (208) 426-3275, kcraven@boisestate.edu

May is “Return to Learn” month at Boise State University. “Return to Learn” is a campuswide effort to provide information for those who may be considering taking classes from the university and help them learn about the best options for returning to school and earning a degree. For more information call (208) 562-3127 or click returntolearn.boisestate.edu.

 

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Last reviewed on Wednesday, January 03, 2007