Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boise City, ID
VS
Irvine, CA
🏆 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
Irvine
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$122,948 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
304,527 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boise City, ID
Pros
Homes cost $624k less ($401,800 vs $1,025,700)
Rent averages $1526/mo less ($1,223 vs $2,749)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Irvine
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (3.8%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Median income trails Irvine by $46,546/yr
Irvine, CA
Pros
Households earn $46,546 more per year on average
71% less violent crime than Boise City
Violent crime is well below the national average (84.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 70.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 39°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,025,700
Higher rents — median is $2,749/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Boise City
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Boise City
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Boise City
Median Home Value
$624k less
$401,800 vs $1,025,700
Boise City
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.5% unemployment
Boise City
Summer Heat
7.6°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 85.1°F
Irvine
Median Income
$46,546
$122,948 vs $76,402/yr
Irvine
Violent Crime
71% lower
84.0 vs 293.8 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boise City, ID | Irvine, 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 | $1,025,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,223 ✓ Lower | $2,749⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,402 | $122,948 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 24.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 14.4% | 23.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 68 | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 66 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.8% | 70.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% | 96.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BOISE INDEPENDENT DISTRICT | Irvine Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.8°F | 67.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer | 85.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.5" ✓ Drier | 14.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 234,192 | 304,527 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.9 ✓ Older | 33.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.9% ✓ Higher | 43.9% |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 21.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.2% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boise City's cost of living index is 93.4 vs Irvine's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Boise City is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boise City leads 12 of 23 categories. Boise City wins 12 and Irvine 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 Irvine or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($401,800 vs $1,025,700 median home), income ($76,402 vs $122,948), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boise City, ID and Irvine, CA are about 691 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.