Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boise City, ID
VS
Daly City, CA
🏆 Boise City leads 18 of 23 categories
Boise City
Idaho
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$76,402
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
234,192 ✓ Larger
Daly City
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$114,910 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
78
Population
103,648
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boise City, ID
Pros
Homes cost $671k less ($401,800 vs $1,073,100)
Rent averages $1331/mo less ($1,223 vs $2,554)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Daly City
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 45.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Daly City by $38,508/yr
Daly City, CA
Pros
Households earn $38,508 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 93°F
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,073,100
Higher rents — median is $2,554/mo
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Boise City
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Key Differences at a Glance
Boise City
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Boise City
Median Home Value
$671k less
$401,800 vs $1,073,100
Boise City
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.4% unemployment
Boise City
Summer Heat
30.9°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 61.8°F
Daly City
Median Income
$38,508
$114,910 vs $76,402/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boise City, ID | Daly City, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $401,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,073,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,223 ✓ Lower | $2,554⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,402 | $114,910 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 29.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.4% ✓ Higher | 10.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 68 ✓ Safer | 81 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 78 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 86 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.8% ✓ Higher | 38.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 87.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BOISE INDEPENDENT DISTRICT | Jefferson Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.8°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer | 61.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.5" ✓ Drier | 20.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 234,192 ✓ Larger | 103,648 |
| Median Age | 37.9 | 41.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.9% ✓ Higher | 60.2% |
| Under 18 | 18.9% ✓ More | 14.8% |
| Over 65 | 15.2% | 19.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boise City's cost of living index is 93.4 vs Daly City's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Boise City is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boise City leads 18 of 23 categories. Boise City wins 18 and Daly City 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 Daly City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($401,800 vs $1,073,100 median home), income ($76,402 vs $114,910), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boise City, ID and Daly City, CA are about 523 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.