Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boise City, ID
VS
Milwaukee, WI
🏆 Boise City leads 19 of 23 categories
Boise City
Idaho
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$76,402 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
234,192
Milwaukee
Wisconsin
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.5
Median Household Income
$49,733
Violent Crime Index
377⚠ High
Population
573,299 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boise City, ID
Pros
79% less violent crime than Milwaukee
Households earn $26,669 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 45.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $401,800
Milwaukee, WI
Pros
Homes cost $244k less ($157,800 vs $401,800)
Rent averages $241/mo less ($982 vs $1,223)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 93°F
Cons
Median income trails Boise City by $26,669/yr
Violent crime (1430.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2700.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Boise City
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 95.5 (100 = US avg)
Boise City
Median Income
$26,669
$76,402 vs $49,733/yr
Boise City
Violent Crime
79% lower
293.8 vs 1430.9 per 100k
Boise City
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.9% unemployment
Boise City
Summer Heat
9.9°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 82.8°F
Milwaukee
Median Home Value
$244k less
$157,800 vs $401,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boise City, ID | Milwaukee, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper | 95.5 |
| Median Home Value | $401,800⚠ High | $157,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,223 | $982 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,402 ✓ Higher | $49,733 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 22.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 14.4% ✓ Higher | 9.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 68 ✓ Safer | 277⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 377⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.8% ✓ Higher | 26.1% |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BOISE INDEPENDENT DISTRICT | Milwaukee School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.8°F ✓ Warmer | 29.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer | 82.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.5" ✓ Drier | 33.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.6" ✓ Less | 39.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 234,192 | 573,299 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.9 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.9% ✓ Higher | 41.2% |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 25.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.2% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boise City's cost of living index is 93.4 vs Milwaukee's 95.5 (US average = 100).
Boise City is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boise City leads 19 of 23 categories. Boise City wins 19 and Milwaukee wins 4. 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 Milwaukee or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($401,800 vs $157,800 median home), income ($76,402 vs $49,733), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boise City, ID and Milwaukee, WI are about 1,414 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.