Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, VA
VS
Boise City, ID
🏆 Boise City leads 12 of 23 categories
Arlington
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$137,387 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
235,845 ✓ Larger
Boise City
Idaho
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$76,402
Violent Crime Index
77
Population
234,192
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, VA
Pros
Households earn $60,985 more per year on average
13% less violent crime than Boise City
More college-educated — 76.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (2.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $833,300
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Boise City
Longer commutes — 27.7 min average each way
Boise City, ID
Pros
Homes cost $432k less ($401,800 vs $833,300)
Rent averages $1004/mo less ($1,223 vs $2,227)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Arlington
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Median income trails Arlington by $60,985/yr
Higher unemployment (3.8% vs 2.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Income
$60,985
$137,387 vs $76,402/yr
Arlington
Violent Crime
13% lower
254.4 vs 293.8 per 100k
Arlington
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
2.8% 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
$432k less
$401,800 vs $833,300
Boise City
Summer Heat
3.1°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 89.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, 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 | $833,300⚠ High | $401,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,227⚠ High | $1,223 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $137,387 ✓ Higher | $76,402 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 3.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.7 min⚠ High | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 27.0% ✓ Higher | 14.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 | 68 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 ✓ Safer | 77 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | B+ (105) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.8% ✓ Higher | 45.8% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% ✓ Higher | 95.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Arlington County 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 | 47.2" | 11.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" ✓ Less | 17.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 235,845 ✓ Larger | 234,192 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.2% | 62.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 18.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 15.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington'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 12 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 11 and Boise City wins 12. 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 Arlington to Boise City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($833,300 vs $401,800 median home), income ($137,387 vs $76,402), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, VA and Boise City, ID are about 2,040 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.