NAICS 44-45

Retail Trade in Boise City, ID

Metro Market Score 51.5 (Challenging), ranked #156 of 378 metros. 2,718 establishments, 40,086 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 51.5
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Challenging

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national retail trade average.

💰High-Cost Market⚡Rising Wages🌱Emerging Market

Boise City stands out for high retail trade labor costs. Wage competitiveness hits 90.5 (above the 70th percentile of metros), and year-over-year wage pressure at 71.5 signals continued increases. Plan for higher payroll if entering this market.

Industry Concentration
26.7
LQ: 1.04
Rank #101 of 378 metros
Wage Competitiveness
90.5
$43,692 avg wage
Growth Trend
↑ 73.5
Employment growth index
Rank #101 of 378 metros
Wage Pressure
71.5
YoY wage change index

2,718 Retail Trade Firms in Boise City

2,718
Establishments
+4.7% YoY
40,086
Total Employment
+0.7% YoY
$43,692
Average Annual Wage
+1.9% YoY
1.04
Location Quotient
Above national avg

Boise City vs Idaho Statewide

How this metro's retail trade market compares to Idaho overall. The state ranks #12/51 for entry risk.

Measure Boise City ID Statewide
Overall Score 51.5 Challenging 40.1 Moderate
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #156 of 378 metros #12 of 51 states

Metro and state scores use different methodologies (metro has 4 QCEW-based metrics; state adds BDS survival and momentum data). Direct score comparisons are approximate.

Other Industries in Boise City

Other Services 44.9 Information 47.8 Construction 50.0 Accommodation and Food Services 50.1 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 60.6 Finance and Insurance 65.4

Retail Trade in Other Idaho Metros

Idaho Falls 50.3 #144/378 Twin Falls 51.8 #162/378 Lewiston 52.5 #168/378 Pocatello 53.0 #176/378 Coeur d'Alene 78.6 #373/378

About Metro Market Score: A weighted composite of industry concentration (25%), wage competitiveness (25%), wage pressure (20%), and employment growth trend (30%). Lower scores indicate more favorable conditions. For Boise City's retail trade sector, the wage competitiveness component (90.5) has the strongest pull on the composite. Metro scores use QCEW data only (no BDS survival data at metro level). Read full methodology →

Data Sources

Data period: 2024. Last updated: April 2026.