Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boise City, ID
VS
Salem, OR
🏆 Boise City leads 18 of 23 categories
Boise City
Idaho
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$76,402 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
234,192 ✓ Larger
Salem
Oregon
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,540
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
175,754
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boise City, ID
Pros
45% less violent crime than Salem
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 45.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $8,862 more per year on average
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Salem
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $401,800
Salem, OR
Pros
Homes cost $52k less ($349,500 vs $401,800)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 39°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°F
Cons
Violent crime (532.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2803.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Boise City by $8,862/yr
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Boise City
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 102.4 (100 = US avg)
Boise City
Median Income
$8,862
$76,402 vs $67,540/yr
Boise City
Violent Crime
45% lower
293.8 vs 532.2 per 100k
Boise City
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
3.8% vs 6.1% unemployment
Boise City
Summer Heat
9.2°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 83.5°F
Salem
Median Home Value
$52k less
$349,500 vs $401,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boise City, ID | Salem, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper | 102.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $401,800⚠ High | $349,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,223 ✓ Lower | $1,224 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,402 ✓ Higher | $67,540 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 22.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 14.4% ✓ Higher | 12.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 68 ✓ Safer | 137⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 133⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.8% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 88.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BOISE INDEPENDENT DISTRICT | Salem-Keizer SD 24J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.8°F | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer | 83.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.5" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.6" | 1.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 234,192 ✓ Larger | 175,754 |
| Median Age | 37.9 ✓ Older | 35.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.9% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.2% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boise City's cost of living index is 93.4 vs Salem's 102.4 (US average = 100).
Boise City is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boise City leads 18 of 23 categories. Boise City wins 18 and Salem 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 Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($401,800 vs $349,500 median home), income ($76,402 vs $67,540), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boise City, ID and Salem, OR are about 348 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.