In the West: 20 towns of the future

Palo Alto, San Diego, Tucson, Pasadena, Denver, Boise, Fairbanks, and more: Here's why to live in these cities now

Photo by Glenn Oakley, , story by Christine Ciarmello and Samantha Schoech

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Boise, ID: Work and play

Got a start-up idea? Boise wants you. The Idaho city has garnered high marks from Forbes as one of the top places to start a business. Micron is a top gun and the city’s biggest employer, Inovus Solar is here, and nearby you’ll find Tsheets and Sky Detective.

Good work means a little play too: Boise Bicycle Project discounts bikes for residents (and teaches them how to fix their two wheels); and the ski area 16 miles from downtown, Bogus Basin resort, is a nonprofit, keeping extracurricular sports affordable. Life should be a balance.