Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boise City, ID
VS
Vancouver, WA
🏆 Boise City leads 19 of 23 categories
Boise City
Idaho
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$76,402 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
234,192 ✓ Larger
Vancouver
Washington
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,626
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
190,700
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boise City, ID
Pros
50% less violent crime than Vancouver
Rent averages $302/mo less ($1,223 vs $1,525)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (3.8%)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Vancouver
More college-educated — 45.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Vancouver, WA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 93°F
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 39°F
Cons
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,525/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Boise City
Property crime (3407.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Boise City
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Boise City
Median Income
$2,776
$76,402 vs $73,626/yr
Boise City
Violent Crime
50% lower
293.8 vs 582.3 per 100k
Boise City
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.6% unemployment
Boise City
Summer Heat
11.8°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 80.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boise City, ID | Vancouver, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $401,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $403,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,223 ✓ Lower | $1,525⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,402 ✓ Higher | $73,626 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 23.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 14.4% ✓ Higher | 13.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 68 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 162⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.8% ✓ Higher | 31.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 91.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BOISE INDEPENDENT DISTRICT | Evergreen School District (Clark) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.8°F | 47.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer | 80.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.5" ✓ Drier | 44.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.6" | 4.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 234,192 ✓ Larger | 190,700 |
| Median Age | 37.9 ✓ Older | 37.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.9% ✓ Higher | 50.9% |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.2% | 16.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boise City's cost of living index is 93.4 vs Vancouver's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Boise City is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boise City leads 19 of 23 categories. Boise City wins 19 and Vancouver wins 4. 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 Vancouver or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($401,800 vs $403,400 median home), income ($76,402 vs $73,626), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boise City, ID and Vancouver, WA are about 343 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.