Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boise City, ID
VS
San Bernardino, CA
🏆 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
San Bernardino
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,323
Violent Crime Index
236⚠ High
Population
221,041
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boise City, ID
Pros
67% less violent crime than San Bernardino
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 45.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $15,079 more per year on average
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than San Bernardino
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $401,800
San Bernardino, CA
Pros
Homes cost $55k less ($347,100 vs $401,800)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 39°F
Cons
Violent crime (897.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Boise City by $15,079/yr
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Boise City
Property crime (2897.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Boise City
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Boise City
Median Income
$15,079
$76,402 vs $61,323/yr
Boise City
Violent Crime
67% lower
293.8 vs 897.1 per 100k
Boise City
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
3.8% vs 7.6% unemployment
San Bernardino
Median Home Value
$55k less
$347,100 vs $401,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boise City, ID | San Bernardino, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $401,800⚠ High | $347,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,223 ✓ Lower | $1,319 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,402 ✓ Higher | $61,323 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.4% ✓ Higher | 5.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 68 ✓ Safer | 197⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.8% ✓ Higher | 12.8% |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 72.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BOISE INDEPENDENT DISTRICT | San Bernardino City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.8°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.5" ✓ Drier | 21.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 234,192 ✓ Larger | 221,041 |
| Median Age | 37.9 ✓ Older | 31.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.9% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 27.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.2% ✓ More | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boise City's cost of living index is 93.4 vs San Bernardino's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Boise City is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boise City leads 18 of 23 categories. Boise City wins 18 and San Bernardino 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 San Bernardino or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($401,800 vs $347,100 median home), income ($76,402 vs $61,323), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boise City, ID and San Bernardino, CA are about 656 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.