Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boise City, ID
VS
Spokane Valley, WA
🏆 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
Population
234,192 ✓ Larger
Spokane Valley
Washington
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,483
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
103,761
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boise City, ID
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 45.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $9,919 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Spokane Valley
Smaller class sizes — 15.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $401,800
Spokane Valley, WA
Pros
18% less violent crime than Boise City
Homes cost $94k less ($307,700 vs $401,800)
Violent crime is well below the national average (242.1 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 93°F
Cons
Median income trails Boise City by $9,919/yr
Property crime (3515.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 3.8%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Boise City
Key Differences at a Glance
Boise City
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 101.0 (100 = US avg)
Boise City
Median Income
$9,919
$76,402 vs $66,483/yr
Boise City
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.8% unemployment
Boise City
Summer Heat
5.6°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 87.1°F
Spokane Valley
Violent Crime
18% lower
242.1 vs 293.8 per 100k
Spokane Valley
Median Home Value
$94k less
$307,700 vs $401,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boise City, ID | Spokane Valley, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper | 101.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $401,800⚠ High | $307,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,223 | $1,175 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,402 ✓ Higher | $66,483 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 20.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 14.4% ✓ Higher | 10.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 68 ✓ Safer | 105⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.8% ✓ Higher | 25.3% |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 94.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BOISE INDEPENDENT DISTRICT | East Valley School District (Spokane) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.8°F ✓ Warmer | 37.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer | 87.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.5" ✓ Drier | 17.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.6" ✓ Less | 45.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 234,192 ✓ Larger | 103,761 |
| Median Age | 37.9 ✓ Older | 37.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.9% ✓ Higher | 57.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 21.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.2% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boise City's cost of living index is 93.4 vs Spokane Valley's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Boise City is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boise City leads 18 of 23 categories. Boise City wins 18 and Spokane Valley 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 Spokane Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($401,800 vs $307,700 median home), income ($76,402 vs $66,483), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boise City, ID and Spokane Valley, WA are about 285 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.