Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boise City, ID
VS
Virginia Beach, VA
🏆 Boise City leads 12 of 23 categories
Boise City
Idaho
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$76,402
Violent Crime Index
77
Population
234,192
Virginia Beach
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$87,544 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
24 ✓ Safer
Population
457,900 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boise City, ID
Pros
Rent averages $345/mo less ($1,223 vs $1,568)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (3.8%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
More college-educated — 45.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Virginia Beach
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $401,800
Median income trails Virginia Beach by $11,142/yr
Virginia Beach, VA
Pros
69% less violent crime than Boise City
Violent crime is well below the national average (92.3 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $58k less ($343,700 vs $401,800)
Households earn $11,142 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 39°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 93°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,568/mo
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Boise City
Key Differences at a Glance
Boise City
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Boise City
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
3.8% vs 4.3% unemployment
Boise City
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 87.4°F
Virginia Beach
Median Income
$11,142
$87,544 vs $76,402/yr
Virginia Beach
Violent Crime
69% lower
92.3 vs 293.8 per 100k
Virginia Beach
Median Home Value
$58k less
$343,700 vs $401,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boise City, ID | Virginia Beach, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $401,800⚠ High | $343,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,223 ✓ Lower | $1,568⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,402 | $87,544 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 23.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 14.4% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 68 | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 | 24 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 78 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.8% ✓ Higher | 39.8% |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 94.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BOISE INDEPENDENT DISTRICT | Virginia Beach City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.8°F | 50.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer | 87.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.5" ✓ Drier | 54.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.6" | 3.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 234,192 | 457,900 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.9 ✓ Older | 37.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.9% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.2% ✓ More | 15.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boise City's cost of living index is 93.4 vs Virginia Beach's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Boise City is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boise City leads 12 of 23 categories. Boise City wins 12 and Virginia Beach wins 11. 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 Virginia Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($401,800 vs $343,700 median home), income ($76,402 vs $87,544), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boise City, ID and Virginia Beach, VA are about 2,152 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.