Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boise City, ID
VS
San Mateo, CA
🏆 Boise City leads 13 of 23 categories
Boise City
Idaho
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$76,402
Violent Crime Index
77
Population
234,192 ✓ Larger
San Mateo
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$149,152 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
104,165
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boise City, ID
Pros
Homes cost $1107k less ($401,800 vs $1,508,900)
Rent averages $1748/mo less ($1,223 vs $2,971)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than San Mateo
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (3.8%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Median income trails San Mateo by $72,750/yr
San Mateo, CA
Pros
Households earn $72,750 more per year on average
17% less violent crime than Boise City
Violent crime is well below the national average (243.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 58.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 93°F
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,508,900
Higher rents — median is $2,971/mo
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Boise City
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Key Differences at a Glance
Boise City
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Boise City
Median Home Value
$1107k less
$401,800 vs $1,508,900
Boise City
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
3.8% vs 4.7% unemployment
Boise City
Summer Heat
20.1°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 72.6°F
San Mateo
Median Income
$72,750
$149,152 vs $76,402/yr
San Mateo
Violent Crime
17% lower
243.2 vs 293.8 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boise City, ID | San Mateo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $401,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,508,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,223 ✓ Lower | $2,971⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,402 | $149,152 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.4% | 19.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 68 ✓ Safer | 74 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 90 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.8% | 58.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 91.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BOISE INDEPENDENT DISTRICT | San Mateo-Foster City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.8°F | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer | 72.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.5" ✓ Drier | 19.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 234,192 ✓ Larger | 104,165 |
| Median Age | 37.9 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.9% ✓ Higher | 51.6% |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 19.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.2% | 16.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boise City's cost of living index is 93.4 vs San Mateo's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Boise City is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boise City leads 13 of 23 categories. Boise City wins 13 and San Mateo wins 10. 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 Mateo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($401,800 vs $1,508,900 median home), income ($76,402 vs $149,152), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boise City, ID and San Mateo, CA are about 525 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.