Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boise City, ID
VS
Renton, WA
🏆 Boise City leads 18 of 23 categories
Boise City
Idaho
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$76,402
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
234,192 ✓ Larger
Renton
Washington
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,292 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89
Population
105,355
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boise City, ID
Pros
Rent averages $641/mo less ($1,223 vs $1,864)
Homes cost $175k less ($401,800 vs $576,800)
13% less violent crime than Renton
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Renton
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 45.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Renton by $15,890/yr
Renton, WA
Pros
Households earn $15,890 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 93°F
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 39°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,864/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $576,800
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Boise City
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Key Differences at a Glance
Boise City
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Boise City
Violent Crime
13% lower
293.8 vs 339.2 per 100k
Boise City
Median Home Value
$175k less
$401,800 vs $576,800
Boise City
Summer Heat
15.5°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 77.2°F
Renton
Median Income
$15,890
$92,292 vs $76,402/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boise City, ID | Renton, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $401,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $576,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,223 ✓ Lower | $1,864⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,402 | $92,292 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 30.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.4% | 16.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 68 ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 158⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.8% ✓ Higher | 36.9% |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 89.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BOISE INDEPENDENT DISTRICT | Renton School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.8°F | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer | 77.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.5" ✓ Drier | 44.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.6" | 6.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 234,192 ✓ Larger | 105,355 |
| Median Age | 37.9 ✓ Older | 36.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.9% ✓ Higher | 53.6% |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 20.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.2% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boise City's cost of living index is 93.4 vs Renton's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Boise City is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boise City leads 18 of 23 categories. Boise City wins 18 and Renton wins 5. 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 Renton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($401,800 vs $576,800 median home), income ($76,402 vs $92,292), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boise City, ID and Renton, WA are about 394 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.