Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boise City, ID
VS
New York, NY
🏆 Boise City leads 16 of 23 categories
Boise City
Idaho
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$76,402
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
234,192
New York
New York
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,607 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
177⚠ High
Population
8,622,467 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boise City, ID
Pros
Homes cost $330k less ($401,800 vs $732,100)
56% less violent crime than New York
Rent averages $491/mo less ($1,223 vs $1,714)
Commutes run 22 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (3.8%)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than New York
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
New York, NY
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $732,100
Higher rents — median is $1,714/mo
Violent crime (671.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Boise City
Key Differences at a Glance
Boise City
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Boise City
Violent Crime
56% lower
293.8 vs 671.0 per 100k
Boise City
Median Home Value
$330k less
$401,800 vs $732,100
Boise City
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
3.8% vs 7.6% unemployment
Boise City
Summer Heat
7.9°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 84.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boise City, ID | New York, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $401,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $732,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,223 ✓ Lower | $1,714⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,402 | $76,607 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 41.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.4% ✓ Higher | 13.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 68 ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 177⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 113⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.8% ✓ Higher | 40.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 83.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BOISE INDEPENDENT DISTRICT | NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT # 2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.8°F | 39.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.5" ✓ Drier | 47.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.6" ✓ Less | 24.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 234,192 | 8,622,467 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.9 ✓ Older | 37.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.9% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 20.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.2% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boise City's cost of living index is 93.4 vs New York's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Boise City is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boise City leads 16 of 23 categories. Boise City wins 16 and New York 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 New York or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($401,800 vs $732,100 median home), income ($76,402 vs $76,607), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boise City, ID and New York, NY are about 2,153 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.