Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boise City, ID
VS
Minneapolis, MN
🏆 Boise City leads 16 of 23 categories
Boise City
Idaho
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$76,402 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
234,192
Minneapolis
Minnesota
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,332
Violent Crime Index
305⚠ High
Population
426,877 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boise City, ID
Pros
75% less violent crime than Minneapolis
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (3.8%)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Minneapolis
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 39°F vs 22°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $401,800
Minneapolis, MN
Pros
Homes cost $73k less ($328,700 vs $401,800)
More college-educated — 53.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1160.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5142.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Boise City
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Boise City
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Boise City
Violent Crime
75% lower
293.8 vs 1160.2 per 100k
Boise City
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.8% unemployment
Boise City
Summer Heat
9.6°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 83.1°F
Minneapolis
Median Home Value
$73k less
$328,700 vs $401,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boise City, ID | Minneapolis, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $401,800⚠ High | $328,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,223 ✓ Lower | $1,267 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,402 ✓ Higher | $76,332 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 22.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 14.4% | 19.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 68 ✓ Safer | 281⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 305⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 245⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.8% | 53.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 90.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BOISE INDEPENDENT DISTRICT | Minneapolis Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.8°F ✓ Warmer | 21.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer | 83.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.5" ✓ Drier | 33.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.6" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 234,192 | 426,877 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.9 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.9% ✓ Higher | 48.1% |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 19.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.2% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boise City's cost of living index is 93.4 vs Minneapolis's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Boise City is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boise City leads 16 of 23 categories. Boise City wins 16 and Minneapolis wins 7. 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 Minneapolis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($401,800 vs $328,700 median home), income ($76,402 vs $76,332), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boise City, ID and Minneapolis, MN are about 1,136 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.