Do Idahoans Hate Californians? The Real Story from a Born and Raised Local

You have seen the bumper stickers. “Don’t California My Idaho.” You have read the Reddit threads. You have probably hesitated to even tell your new neighbors where you are from. So let me give you the straight answer from someone who was born at St. Luke’s Hospital in downtown Boise and has spent 35 of his 40 years right here in the Treasure Valley.

Quick Answer: Do Idahoans Actually Hate Californians?

• No. The vast majority of Idahoans do not hate Californians or any out of staters
• What people dislike is the idea that newcomers will try to change Idaho into the state they just left
• What people love is when transplants arrive excited to embrace Idaho values, swap their plates, and keep Idaho as Idaho
• The reality: Most of your neighbors in any Boise area subdivision are probably from out of state already
• The bumper stickers are more about hesitation toward change than actual hostility
• 98% of people are welcoming. There will always be a vocal minority, but they do not represent the community

The “We Hate Californians” Myth Is Bigger Than Reality

I will be honest. The legend of Californian hate grows larger every year, and it is almost entirely overblown. Yes, I have seen the bumper stickers. I was once taking a family on a tour through Hidden Springs and we literally saw “Californians suck” spray painted on a curb. Twice in a row. That is real, and I will not pretend it does not happen.

But here is what I know from being born and raised here and from working with dozens of relocating families every year: when you actually move in and meet your neighbors, most of them are from somewhere else too. California, Washington, Oregon, Texas, Colorado. The Treasure Valley is full of transplants, and most of them came here for the exact same reasons you are considering.

I looked at a photo from 1908 taken from the train depot looking down toward the Idaho Capitol Building. There were just a few homes on enormous estate lots. And I thought about what those people would have said when my parents moved here from dental school in 1982. Were they intruders? Were they ruining things?

Everyone is a transplant from somewhere if you go back far enough. That is the reality.

What People Actually Mean by “Keep Idaho Idaho”

The bumper sticker is not about hating people. It is about protecting a way of life.

Idaho is Idaho because we have not over regulated everything. When people move here from states with extensive government oversight and immediately start asking, “Why don’t they regulate that?” or “Wouldn’t it make sense to have a safety standard for this?” or “Why is there no code for that?” it rubs people the wrong way.

Not because the questions are bad. But because that regulatory mindset is exactly what many people moved here to escape. Less government in our daily lives is a feature, not a bug. That is the Idaho people want to preserve.

If you are moving here to embrace Idaho as it is, you will be welcomed with open arms. If you are moving here planning to “fix” things and push for the same policies that made your old state unlivable, you will get pushback. That is the honest truth.

The Economics Nobody Talks About

Here is what locals sometimes forget: growth is good for them financially. More people means the doctor has more patients. The grocery store has more sales. Car dealerships sell more cars. Sonic has more customers. There are more jobs for your kids. More opportunities across the board.

And here is the big one: your property values go up. The land closer to downtown appreciates as more people move to the area. That has been true for hundreds of years and it is not changing. Growth brings growing pains. Construction, traffic, longer lines at Costco. I do not deny any of that. But the economic benefits flow to everyone who is already here.

The Nine Cities of the Treasure Valley

When people say “moving to Boise,” they usually mean the Treasure Valley, which includes nine distinct cities:

Each city has its own personality. An aerial photo of each one looks different. You can tell which is which by the feel of the streets, the mix of residential and commercial, the age of the downtown. That is one of the things people love about the Treasure Valley. You are not stuck with one vibe. You pick the city that matches your lifestyle.

What About the Weather?

This is probably the biggest actual myth about Boise. People picture a frozen tundra, and that is just not accurate.

Boise sits in a warm pocket compared to the rest of Idaho. We are warmer than Salt Lake. Warmer than Eastern Idaho. Warmer than Northern Idaho. We have all four true seasons:

• Summer: High 90s with a few weeks touching 100 to 103
• Fall: Hoodie weather for a couple of months, leaves changing, gorgeous
• Winter: Expect a few cold snaps (highs in the 30s, lows around 20), occasional snow that usually melts by afternoon
• Spring: Another couple of months of hoodie weather before summer kicks in

Wind is abnormal here. That is an Eastern Idaho thing. We are nestled between Bogus Basin and the Owyhees in this nice little weather pocket. The famous 2016 “Snowpocalypse” was about 30 days where it never got above freezing, and locals said that had not happened in 35 years. That is the exception, not the rule.

For those coming from the East Coast, our winter is dry. No humidity. That makes 20 degrees here feel very different from 20 degrees in Ohio.

The Economy Is Thriving

People ask me about the job market constantly. I am a real estate agent, not a job placement specialist, but here is what I can tell you:

Micron is building out billions of dollars of infrastructure in the Treasure Valley and bringing 25,000 permanent jobs. That number is rumored to double. Major employers include St. Luke’s, Albertsons (headquartered here), Winco (headquartered here), Simplot, Hewlett Packard, and a growing tech scene downtown.

Idaho is ranked in the top five states for business friendly tax policy. Unemployment in Ada County runs well below the national average. You want to be in a growing economy, and the Treasure Valley is exactly that.

FAQ

Will my neighbors be hostile if they find out I am from California? Very unlikely. Most neighborhoods in the Boise area have a significant percentage of transplants. You will probably find more fellow Californians than born and raised locals on your street.

Is it true that Idaho is getting more liberal with all the newcomers? Actually, the opposite. Idaho has gone from roughly 60% Republican voters to about 70%. The people moving here are predominantly conservative and are reinforcing the existing values, not diluting them.

What do locals mean when they say “Don’t California my Idaho”? They mean: do not bring the regulations, taxes, and government overreach that many believe made California unaffordable. Come here to embrace Idaho, not to change it.

Is the Boise area really growing that fast? Yes. Meridian alone went from 33,000 people in the 1990s to 139,000 in 2024. Eagle has gone from 20,000 to over 30,000. The entire valley is experiencing significant, sustained growth.

Has Idaho changed because of the growth? Idaho has grown. It has not changed in its values. The conservative way of life, the community feel, the religious freedoms, the outdoor access, all of that is still here and arguably stronger than ever. Growth brings construction and traffic. It does not have to bring a change in identity.

Let’s Get You Home

I have spent 35 years in the Treasure Valley with over 120 transactions and more than $100M in sales. Circle of Excellence, RENE designated, JPAR Live Local. I am the officially unofficial, non woke agent of the Boise Valley, and I help families escape the states that are not working for them anymore.

My Buying in Boise Blueprint gets you into the right home without overpaying, without missing out, and without wasting your time.

Call or text: 208-891-4200 Email: Brian@BrianHymas.com Website: brianhymas.com