Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Ann Arbor, MI
VS
Boise City, ID
🏆 Boise City leads 16 of 23 categories
Ann Arbor
Michigan
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$78,546 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
80
Population
122,216
Boise City
Idaho
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$76,402
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
234,192 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Ann Arbor, MI
Pros
More college-educated — 77.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,472/mo
Snowy winters — about 59" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Boise City
Boise City, ID
Pros
Rent averages $249/mo less ($1,223 vs $1,472)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Milder winters — January highs near 39°F vs 32°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Ann Arbor
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Ann Arbor
Median Income
$2,144
$78,546 vs $76,402/yr
Boise City
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Boise City
Median Home Value
$15k less
$401,800 vs $416,500
Boise City
Summer Heat
8.7°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Ann Arbor, MI | Boise City, ID |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $416,500⚠ High | $401,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,472⚠ High | $1,223 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,546 ✓ Higher | $76,402 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 3.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.6 min | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 14.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 80 | 68 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 82 | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | B+ (105) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 77.5% ✓ Higher | 45.8% |
| High School or Higher | 97.8% ✓ Higher | 95.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Ann Arbor Public Schools | BOISE INDEPENDENT DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F | 38.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" | 11.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.3" | 17.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 122,216 | 234,192 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 27.4 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.0% | 62.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 18.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 15.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Ann Arbor's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Boise City's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Boise City is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boise City leads 16 of 23 categories. Ann Arbor wins 7 and Boise City wins 16. 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 Ann Arbor to Boise City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($416,500 vs $401,800 median home), income ($78,546 vs $76,402), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Ann Arbor, MI and Boise City, ID are about 1,636 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.