Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boise City, ID
VS
Boulder, CO
🏆 Boise City leads 17 of 23 categories
Boise City
Idaho
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$76,402
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
234,192 ✓ Larger
Boulder
Colorado
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,243 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
85
Population
106,598
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boise City, ID
Pros
Homes cost $518k less ($401,800 vs $919,700)
Rent averages $630/mo less ($1,223 vs $1,853)
9% less violent crime than Boulder
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (3.8%)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Boulder
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Median income trails Boulder by $3,841/yr
Boulder, CO
Pros
More college-educated — 76.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 39°F
Households earn $3,841 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $919,700
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Boise City
Property crime (2733.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Boise City
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 107.2 (100 = US avg)
Boise City
Violent Crime
9% lower
293.8 vs 322.3 per 100k
Boise City
Median Home Value
$518k less
$401,800 vs $919,700
Boise City
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.4% unemployment
Boise City
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 88.0°F
Boulder
Median Income
$3,841
$80,243 vs $76,402/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boise City, ID | Boulder, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper | 107.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $401,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $919,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,223 ✓ Lower | $1,853⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,402 | $80,243 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 19.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 14.4% | 28.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 68 ✓ Safer | 103⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 85 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.8% | 76.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% | 96.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BOISE INDEPENDENT DISTRICT | Boulder Valley School District No. Re2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.8°F | 47.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.5" ✓ Drier | 19.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.6" ✓ Less | 85.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 234,192 ✓ Larger | 106,598 |
| Median Age | 37.9 ✓ Older | 28.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.9% ✓ Higher | 47.2% |
| Under 18 | 18.9% ✓ More | 11.7% |
| Over 65 | 15.2% ✓ More | 12.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boise City's cost of living index is 93.4 vs Boulder's 107.2 (US average = 100).
Boise City is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boise City leads 17 of 23 categories. Boise City wins 17 and Boulder wins 6. 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 Boise City to Boulder or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($401,800 vs $919,700 median home), income ($76,402 vs $80,243), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boise City, ID and Boulder, CO are about 616 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.