City comparison
No. Boise's crime index is 73 versus 132 in Arlington, and its violent crime index is 85 versus 130, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Boise is cheaper. Median rent is $1,446 a month versus $1,470 in Arlington.
Safety is where Arlington and Boise split most clearly. Boise scores 59 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,470 in Arlington and $1,446 in Boise.
Boise is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety by margins that add up in daily life. Arlington makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Boise is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Boise has rougher pockets and Arlington has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Arlington and Boise are 1,276 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,470 a month in Arlington to $1,446 a month in Boise, down $24 a month (2%).
Median household income goes from $75,171 in Arlington to $83,904 in Boise, up $8,733 (12%).
The crime index goes from 132 in Arlington to 73 in Boise, down 59 points (45%).
The move
Boise and Arlington are 1,276 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,446 a month in Boise to $1,470 a month in Arlington, up $24 a month (2%).
Median household income goes from $83,904 in Boise to $75,171 in Arlington, down $8,733 (10%).
The crime index goes from 73 in Boise to 132 in Arlington, up 59 points (81%).
Arlington, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Boise, ID
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Arlington and Boise? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
2% cheaper
Boise rent is 2% cheaper than Arlington
Arlington
$1,470/mo
Boise
Winner$1,446/mo
Typical rent runs $1,446 a month in Boise versus $1,470 in Arlington, so Boise is 2% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $24, or $288 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Boise? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
12% higher
Boise's median income is 12% higher than Arlington
Arlington
$75,171
Boise
Winner$83,904
Median household income is $83,904 in Boise versus $75,171 in Arlington, so typical pay runs 12% higher in Boise (about $8,733 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Boise is the stronger labor market on paper. Arlington can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
45% lower crime
Boise's crime index is 45% lower than Arlington
Arlington
132 (100 = avg)
Boise
Winner73 (100 = avg)
Boise's crime index is 73 versus 132 in Arlington (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 45% lower in Boise. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Boise is the easier city. Arlington can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
12% more comfortable
Arlington weather is 12% more comfortable than Boise
Arlington
Winner67°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 100/100
Boise
61°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 89/100
Arlington averages about 67°F (74°F highs); Boise averages about 61°F (70°F highs). Arlington sits near 67°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Boise averages around 61°F. Arlington scores 12% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Boise if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Pick Arlington if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (67°F) beat Boise on this page's weather index by 12%. Boise may pay more or cost less, but Arlington is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Boise is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 2% cheaper here at about $1,446 a month. Choose Boise if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Boise is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 12% higher here ($83,904). Start with Boise if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Boise is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 45% lower than Arlington (73 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
Crime and safety tilt toward Boise: Boise scores 70/100 versus 52/100 in Arlington, with matched rent near $1,446/month. I would vet the exact ZIP in Arlington before trading 18 safety points for an identical lease.
Median income is $83,904 in Boise versus $75,171 in Arlington — with rent matched, the paycheck gap matters more.
If safety drives your move, Boise is the stronger match (70/100 safety versus 52/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Arlington, treat $1,470/month rent and $75,171 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Weather averages land near 67°F in Arlington and 61°F in Boise.
Common questions
Ready to move to Boise?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Boise when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Arlington and Boise, plus other cities in TX and ID.
