Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boise City, ID
VS
Buckeye, AZ
🏆 Boise City leads 12 of 23 categories
Boise City
Idaho
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$76,402
Violent Crime Index
77
Population
234,192 ✓ Larger
Buckeye
Arizona
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0
Median Household Income
$94,188 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
95,042
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boise City, ID
Pros
Rent averages $374/mo less ($1,223 vs $1,597)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 45.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (3.8%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 93°F vs 107°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Median income trails Buckeye by $17,786/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $401,800
Buckeye, AZ
Pros
43% less violent crime than Boise City
Households earn $17,786 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (166.8 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $60k less ($341,700 vs $401,800)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 39°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,597/mo
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 3.8%)
Longer commutes — 32.5 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Boise City
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 100.0 (100 = US avg)
Boise City
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.0% unemployment
Buckeye
Median Income
$17,786
$94,188 vs $76,402/yr
Buckeye
Violent Crime
43% lower
166.8 vs 293.8 per 100k
Buckeye
Median Home Value
$60k less
$341,700 vs $401,800
Buckeye
Summer Heat
13.8°F warmer
July avg high 106.5°F vs 92.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boise City, ID | Buckeye, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper | 100.0 |
| Median Home Value | $401,800⚠ High | $341,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,223 ✓ Lower | $1,597⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,402 | $94,188 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 32.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.4% ✓ Higher | 14.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 68 | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 | 44 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 | 37 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.8% ✓ Higher | 22.9% |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 88.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BOISE INDEPENDENT DISTRICT | Litchfield Elementary District (4281) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.8°F | 66.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F | 106.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.5" | 8.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 234,192 ✓ Larger | 95,042 |
| Median Age | 37.9 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.9% | 85.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.2% ✓ More | 12.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boise City's cost of living index is 93.4 vs Buckeye's 100.0 (US average = 100).
Boise City is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boise City leads 12 of 23 categories. Boise City wins 12 and Buckeye wins 11. 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 Buckeye or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($401,800 vs $341,700 median home), income ($76,402 vs $94,188), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boise City, ID and Buckeye, AZ are about 729 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.