Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boise City, ID
VS
Richardson, TX
🏆 Richardson leads 12 of 23 categories
Boise City
Idaho
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$76,402
Violent Crime Index
77
Population
234,192 ✓ Larger
Richardson
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,362 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
118,063
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boise City, ID
Pros
Rent averages $502/mo less ($1,223 vs $1,725)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (3.8%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Richardson
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Median income trails Richardson by $17,960/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $401,800
Richardson, TX
Pros
50% less violent crime than Boise City
Households earn $17,960 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.7 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 39°F
Homes cost $22k less ($379,800 vs $401,800)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,725/mo
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 3.8%)
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 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Boise City
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.0% unemployment
Richardson
Median Income
$17,960
$94,362 vs $76,402/yr
Richardson
Violent Crime
50% lower
146.7 vs 293.8 per 100k
Richardson
Median Home Value
$22k less
$379,800 vs $401,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boise City, ID | Richardson, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $401,800⚠ High | $379,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,223 ✓ Lower | $1,725⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,402 | $94,362 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 23.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 14.4% | 19.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 68 | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 87 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A+ (133) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.8% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 92.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BOISE INDEPENDENT DISTRICT | RICHARDSON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.8°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.5" ✓ Drier | 40.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.6" | 1.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 234,192 ✓ Larger | 118,063 |
| Median Age | 37.9 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.9% ✓ Higher | 51.6% |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 21.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.2% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boise City's cost of living index is 93.4 vs Richardson's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Boise City is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richardson leads 12 of 23 categories. Boise City wins 11 and Richardson wins 12. 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 Richardson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($401,800 vs $379,800 median home), income ($76,402 vs $94,362), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boise City, ID and Richardson, TX are about 1,283 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.