Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, IL
VS
Boise City, ID
🏆 Boise City leads 15 of 22 categories
Aurora
Illinois
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,943 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
181,405
Boise City
Idaho
15
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.
Aurora, IL
Pros
Homes cost $160k less ($241,600 vs $401,800)
9% less violent crime than Boise City
Households earn $9,541 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,462/mo
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 3.8%)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Boise City
Longer commutes — 28.6 min average each way
Boise City, ID
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (3.8%)
Rent averages $239/mo less ($1,223 vs $1,462)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 45.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Aurora
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $401,800
Median income trails Aurora by $9,541/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Median Income
$9,541
$85,943 vs $76,402/yr
Aurora
Violent Crime
9% lower
266.0 vs 293.8 per 100k
Aurora
Median Home Value
$160k less
$241,600 vs $401,800
Boise City
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Boise City
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.6% unemployment
Boise City
Summer Heat
8.7°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, IL | Boise City, ID |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $241,600 ✓ Lower | $401,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,462⚠ High | $1,223 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,943 ✓ Higher | $76,402 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% | 14.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 68 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 77 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | B+ (105) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% | 45.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.9% | 95.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indian Prairie CUSD 204 | BOISE INDEPENDENT DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.5°F | 38.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" | 11.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.9" | 17.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,405 | 234,192 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 62.9% |
| Under 18 | 26.7% ✓ More | 18.9% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 15.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Boise City's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Boise City is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Boise City leads 15 of 22 categories. Aurora wins 7 and Boise City wins 15. 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 Aurora to Boise City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($241,600 vs $401,800 median home), income ($85,943 vs $76,402), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, IL and Boise City, ID are about 1,418 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.