Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
Boise City, ID
🏆 Boise City leads 14 of 23 categories
Alexandria
Virginia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
157,594
Boise City
Idaho
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$76,402
Violent Crime Index
77
Population
234,192 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
Households earn $36,777 more per year on average
25% less violent crime than Boise City
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 66.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (3.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $655,700
Higher rents — median is $1,983/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Boise City
Property crime (2640.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Boise City, ID
Pros
Homes cost $254k less ($401,800 vs $655,700)
Rent averages $760/mo less ($1,223 vs $1,983)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Alexandria
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Median income trails Alexandria by $36,777/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Median Income
$36,777
$113,179 vs $76,402/yr
Alexandria
Violent Crime
25% lower
219.1 vs 293.8 per 100k
Alexandria
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
3.2% vs 3.8% unemployment
Boise City
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Boise City
Median Home Value
$254k less
$401,800 vs $655,700
Boise City
Summer Heat
3.1°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 89.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | Boise City, ID |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High | $401,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High | $1,223 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 ✓ Higher | $76,402 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 3.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 14.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 | 68 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 77 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B+ (105) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 45.8% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% | 95.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | BOISE INDEPENDENT DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F ✓ Warmer | 38.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 11.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" ✓ Less | 17.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 | 234,192 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% | 62.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 18.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 15.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Boise City's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Boise City is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boise City leads 14 of 23 categories. Alexandria wins 9 and Boise City wins 14. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Alexandria to Boise City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $401,800 median home), income ($113,179 vs $76,402), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and Boise City, ID are about 2,042 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.