Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boise City, ID
VS
Midland, TX
🏆 Boise City leads 15 of 23 categories
Boise City
Idaho
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$76,402
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
234,192 ✓ Larger
Midland
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8
Median Household Income
$90,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96
Population
132,490
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boise City, ID
Pros
19% less violent crime than Midland
Rent averages $177/mo less ($1,223 vs $1,400)
More college-educated — 45.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Smaller class sizes — 15.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $401,800
Median income trails Midland by $14,046/yr
Midland, TX
Pros
Homes cost $121k less ($280,700 vs $401,800)
Households earn $14,046 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (3.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 39°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.8)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,400/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Boise City
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 94.8 (100 = US avg)
Boise City
Violent Crime
19% lower
293.8 vs 364.9 per 100k
Midland
Median Income
$14,046
$90,448 vs $76,402/yr
Midland
Median Home Value
$121k less
$280,700 vs $401,800
Midland
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
3.2% vs 3.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boise City, ID | Midland, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper | 94.8 |
| Median Home Value | $401,800⚠ High | $280,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,223 ✓ Lower | $1,400⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,402 | $90,448 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 19.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 14.4% ✓ Higher | 5.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 68 ✓ Safer | 88 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 77 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.8% ✓ Higher | 31.8% |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 84.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BOISE INDEPENDENT DISTRICT | MIDLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.8°F | 60.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.5" ✓ Drier | 16.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.6" | 1.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 234,192 ✓ Larger | 132,490 |
| Median Age | 37.9 ✓ Older | 31.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.9% | 63.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.2% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boise City's cost of living index is 93.4 vs Midland's 94.8 (US average = 100).
Boise City is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boise City leads 15 of 23 categories. Boise City wins 15 and Midland wins 8. 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 Midland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($401,800 vs $280,700 median home), income ($76,402 vs $90,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boise City, ID and Midland, TX are about 1,108 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.