Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boise City, ID
VS
Costa Mesa, CA
🏆 Boise City leads 17 of 22 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
Costa Mesa
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,981 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
111,490
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boise City, ID
Pros
Homes cost $558k less ($401,800 vs $959,800)
Rent averages $1045/mo less ($1,223 vs $2,268)
60% less violent crime than Costa Mesa
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Costa Mesa
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (3.8%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Median income trails Costa Mesa by $28,579/yr
Costa Mesa, CA
Pros
Households earn $28,579 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 39°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $959,800
Higher rents — median is $2,268/mo
Violent crime (737.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Boise City
Key Differences at a Glance
Boise City
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Boise City
Violent Crime
60% lower
293.8 vs 737.6 per 100k
Boise City
Median Home Value
$558k less
$401,800 vs $959,800
Boise City
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.0% unemployment
Boise City
Summer Heat
13.8°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 78.9°F
Costa Mesa
Median Income
$28,579
$104,981 vs $76,402/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boise City, ID | Costa Mesa, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $401,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $959,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,223 ✓ Lower | $2,268⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,402 | $104,981 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 21.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 14.4% | 16.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 68 ✓ Safer | 170⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 194⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.8% ✓ Higher | 42.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 87.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BOISE INDEPENDENT DISTRICT | Newport-Mesa Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.8°F | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer | 78.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.5" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 234,192 ✓ Larger | 111,490 |
| Median Age | 37.9 ✓ Older | 36.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.9% ✓ Higher | 39.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 18.9% |
| Over 65 | 15.2% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boise City's cost of living index is 93.4 vs Costa Mesa's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Boise City is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Boise City leads 17 of 22 categories. Boise City wins 17 and Costa Mesa wins 5. 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 Costa Mesa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($401,800 vs $959,800 median home), income ($76,402 vs $104,981), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boise City, ID and Costa Mesa, CA are about 692 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.