Kuna has been one of the fastest-growing cities in the US, and most people moving there are coming from Boise and the rest of the Treasure Valley. Below: why the town is growing, what the USDA rural loan program means if you are buying, and what the move itself involves — because a move into Kuna is often not the same job as a move across Boise.
Kuna, Idaho. Source: kunacity.id.gov
Kuna is one of the fastest-growing cities in Idaho and in the US
Kuna, Idaho, has experienced remarkable growth over the past two decades, transforming from a small farming community into one of the nation’s fastest-growing cities. Between 2000 and 2021, the population surged from 6,436 to an estimated 26,673 residents — a 314.4% increase, outpacing 97% of similarly sized U.S. cities, according to KTVB.
Kuna is also emerging as a hub for economic development, thanks to a significant investment by Meta in a new data center. This project represents an investment of nearly $1 billion into Idaho’s economy, bringing over 1,400 construction jobs during its development phase. According to Idaho News 6, Jan 07, 2025, once completed, the facility is expected to create more than 100 permanent jobs within the local community.
Cody Allred of Idaho Commerce highlighted the transformative impact of this project, stating, “Meta’s data center investment will generate new jobs and foster innovative business and community opportunities within the state of Idaho.”
Beyond employment opportunities, Meta is also committed to improving local infrastructure. The company is funding the development of a new water and sewer system for the City of Kuna, ensuring sustainable growth for the expanding population. Additionally, Meta is investing in STEM-based educational programs for students in the Kuna School District, enhancing learning opportunities for the next generation.
With large-scale investments like this, Kuna continues to attract families and professionals looking for both career opportunities and a high quality of life.
Meta’s Kuna Data Center. Photo: Matt Roderick/Rapid Aerial — Special to BoiseDev. Picture credit: BoiseDev
Special Credit Loan for Home Buyers in Rural Areas
Since Kuna is still considered a rural area, home buyers may qualify for the USDA Rural Development Loan, commonly known as a USDA loan. This program, backed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), offers zero-down payment home loans to eligible rural and suburban homebuyers.
Key features:
- No down payment: 100% financing available
- Low interest rates: often lower than conventional loans
- Reduced mortgage insurance costs: more affordable compared to FHA or conventional loans
- Flexible credit requirements: more lenient credit score requirements
- Income eligibility: based on area median income (AMI), with limits varying by location and household size
- Property eligibility: must be in a designated rural area (USDA provides an online eligibility tool)
Who qualifies?
- U.S. citizens or permanent residents
- Moderate- to low-income borrowers (income must not exceed 115% of the area median income)
- The home must be the primary residence
- The property must be located in an eligible rural or suburban area
There are two main types of USDA loans:
- USDA Guaranteed Loan: issued by approved lenders and backed by the USDA
- USDA Direct Loan: provided directly by the USDA for very low-income applicants with subsidized interest rates
To check if a specific property qualifies, you can use the USDA Eligibility Map on the USDA website.
USDA Eligibility Map Tool. Source: usda.gov
As of March 12, 2025, USDA loan interest rates vary based on the specific program and borrower qualifications:
- USDA Single Family Housing Direct Home Loans: provided directly by the USDA to low- and very-low-income applicants. The interest rate was 5.125%, effective March 1, 2025. With payment assistance, rates can be as low as 1%.
- USDA Guaranteed Loans: offered by approved private lenders and backed by the USDA. As of March 11, 2025, the average rate for a 30-year fixed USDA purchase loan was 6.071%, based on data from over 400 lenders.
Please note that actual rates may vary depending on individual lender terms, borrower credit profiles, and market conditions. It’s advisable to consult with approved USDA lenders to obtain the most accurate and current rate information for your specific situation.
If you are moving from Boise to Kuna
The drive is the easy part. What decides the day is what is waiting at the other end.
A new build changes the plan. A lot of moves into Kuna are into houses nobody has lived in yet, often with a delivery window agreed with the builder, and a buyer who has never seen the rooms with furniture in them. Sketch where the big pieces go before moving day, even roughly. A crew that knows the sofa goes against the north wall puts it down once. A crew that has to guess puts it down twice.
Rural addresses need a heads-up. Outside the new subdivisions, Kuna still has gravel drives, gates and outbuildings, and the truck often parks further from the door than it would in town. None of that is a problem. All of it changes the estimate, so say so when you ask for the quote rather than on the morning of the move.
Sort before you pack, not after. Every box that goes to the new house is carried twice — once out, once in. Donate and throw away first. Label each box with the room it belongs in rather than what is inside, and keep one box of essentials with you instead of on the truck.
Doing it yourself is a real option. For a short hop like Boise to Kuna, plenty of people weigh a rental truck against a crew, and for a small apartment with no stairs the truck can make sense. Where it stops making sense is furniture that has to come apart to clear a doorway, anything heavy, and a house that needs the whole day. If you do it yourself, packing the kitchen properly is the part most worth getting right.
Moving to Kuna with Delicate Touch Moving
Most of our work in Kuna is people arriving rather than leaving, so the new-build and rural details above are the normal case for us, not the exception. Tell us the address, whether it is a new build, and anything unusual about the drive or the carry, and we will give you a straight quote. There is more on rural roads and new-build arrivals on our Kuna page.