Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boise City, ID
VS
Philadelphia, PA
🏆 Boise City leads 17 of 23 categories
Boise City
Idaho
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$76,402 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
234,192
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$57,537
Violent Crime Index
239⚠ High
Population
1,593,208 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boise City, ID
Pros
68% less violent crime than Philadelphia
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.8 pts lower (3.8%)
Households earn $18,865 more per year on average
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 45.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Philadelphia
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $401,800
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
Homes cost $186k less ($215,500 vs $401,800)
Cons
Violent crime (908.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Boise City by $18,865/yr
Property crime (4548.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Boise City
Key Differences at a Glance
Boise City
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 103.5 (100 = US avg)
Boise City
Median Income
$18,865
$76,402 vs $57,537/yr
Boise City
Violent Crime
68% lower
293.8 vs 908.7 per 100k
Boise City
Unemployment
4.8 pp lower
3.8% vs 8.6% unemployment
Boise City
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 89.3°F
Philadelphia
Median Home Value
$186k less
$215,500 vs $401,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boise City, ID | Philadelphia, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper | 103.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $401,800⚠ High | $215,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,223 ✓ Lower | $1,250 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,402 ✓ Higher | $57,537 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 32.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.4% ✓ Higher | 13.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 68 ✓ Safer | 230⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 239⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 217⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.8% ✓ Higher | 33.6% |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 86.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BOISE INDEPENDENT DISTRICT | Philadelphia City SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.8°F | 41.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer | 89.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.5" ✓ Drier | 50.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.6" | 16.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 234,192 | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.9 ✓ Older | 34.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.9% ✓ Higher | 52.2% |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.2% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boise City's cost of living index is 93.4 vs Philadelphia's 103.5 (US average = 100).
Boise City is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boise City leads 17 of 23 categories. Boise City wins 17 and Philadelphia wins 6. 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 Philadelphia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($401,800 vs $215,500 median home), income ($76,402 vs $57,537), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boise City, ID and Philadelphia, PA are about 2,109 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.