Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boise City, ID
VS
Seattle, WA
🏆 Boise City leads 15 of 23 categories
Boise City
Idaho
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$76,402
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
234,192
Seattle
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,068 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
204⚠ High
Population
734,603 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boise City, ID
Pros
Homes cost $478k less ($401,800 vs $879,900)
Rent averages $722/mo less ($1,223 vs $1,945)
62% less violent crime than Seattle
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Seattle
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Median income trails Seattle by $39,666/yr
Seattle, WA
Pros
Households earn $39,666 more per year on average
More college-educated — 66.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 93°F
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $879,900
Higher rents — median is $1,945/mo
Violent crime (775.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Boise City
Key Differences at a Glance
Boise City
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Boise City
Violent Crime
62% lower
293.8 vs 775.1 per 100k
Boise City
Median Home Value
$478k less
$401,800 vs $879,900
Boise City
Summer Heat
16.2°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 76.5°F
Seattle
Median Income
$39,666
$116,068 vs $76,402/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boise City, ID | Seattle, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $401,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $879,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,223 ✓ Lower | $1,945⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,402 | $116,068 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 14.4% | 27.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 68 ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 238⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.8% | 66.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% | 95.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BOISE INDEPENDENT DISTRICT | Seattle School District No. 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.8°F | 47.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.5" ✓ Drier | 38.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.6" | 3.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 234,192 | 734,603 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.9 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.9% ✓ Higher | 44.5% |
| Under 18 | 18.9% ✓ More | 14.0% |
| Over 65 | 15.2% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boise City's cost of living index is 93.4 vs Seattle's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Boise City is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boise City leads 15 of 23 categories. Boise City wins 15 and Seattle wins 8. 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 Seattle or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($401,800 vs $879,900 median home), income ($76,402 vs $116,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boise City, ID and Seattle, WA are about 406 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.