Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boise City, ID
VS
Scottsdale, AZ
🏆 Scottsdale leads 16 of 23 categories
Boise City
Idaho
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$76,402
Violent Crime Index
77
Population
234,192
Scottsdale
Arizona
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,197 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
240,537 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boise City, ID
Pros
Homes cost $250k less ($401,800 vs $651,800)
Rent averages $545/mo less ($1,223 vs $1,768)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Scottsdale
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 93°F vs 99°F
Cons
Median income trails Scottsdale by $27,795/yr
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
48% less violent crime than Boise City
Households earn $27,795 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (152.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $651,800
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Boise City
Hot summers — July highs average 99°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Boise City
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 104.0 (100 = US avg)
Boise City
Median Home Value
$250k less
$401,800 vs $651,800
Scottsdale
Median Income
$27,795
$104,197 vs $76,402/yr
Scottsdale
Violent Crime
48% lower
152.5 vs 293.8 per 100k
Scottsdale
Summer Heat
6.7°F warmer
July avg high 99.4°F vs 92.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boise City, ID | Scottsdale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper | 104.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $401,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $651,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,223 ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,402 | $104,197 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 21.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 14.4% | 26.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 68 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.8% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BOISE INDEPENDENT DISTRICT | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.8°F | 63.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F | 99.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.5" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 234,192 | 240,537 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.9 | 48.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.9% | 67.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% ✓ More | 14.3% |
| Over 65 | 15.2% | 25.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boise City's cost of living index is 93.4 vs Scottsdale's 104.0 (US average = 100).
Boise City is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Scottsdale leads 16 of 23 categories. Boise City wins 7 and Scottsdale wins 16. 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 Scottsdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($401,800 vs $651,800 median home), income ($76,402 vs $104,197), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boise City, ID and Scottsdale, AZ are about 724 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.