City comparison
No. Boise's crime index is 73 versus 162 in Austin, 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 $1,729 in Austin.
Safety is where Austin and Boise split most clearly. Boise scores 89 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,729 in Austin and $1,446 in Boise.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Boise costs less and Austin pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Boise at $1,446 average has pockets that run $1,246 and others at $1,846: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Austin and Boise are 1,369 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,729 a month in Austin to $1,446 a month in Boise, down $283 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $93,658 in Austin to $83,904 in Boise, down $9,754 (10%).
The crime index goes from 162 in Austin to 73 in Boise, down 89 points (55%).
The move
Boise and Austin are 1,369 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,446 a month in Boise to $1,729 a month in Austin, up $283 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $83,904 in Boise to $93,658 in Austin, up $9,754 (12%).
The crime index goes from 73 in Boise to 162 in Austin, up 89 points (122%).
Austin, 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 Austin and Boise? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
16% cheaper
Boise rent is 16% cheaper than Austin
Austin
$1,729/mo
Boise
Winner$1,446/mo
Typical rent runs $1,446 a month in Boise versus $1,729 in Austin, so Boise is 16% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $3,396, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Boise still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Austin.
Planning to buy in Boise? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
12% higher
Austin's median income is 12% higher than Boise
Austin
Winner$93,658
Boise
$83,904
Median household income is $93,658 in Austin versus $83,904 in Boise, so typical pay runs 12% higher in Austin (about $9,754 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, Austin is the stronger labor market on paper. Boise can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
55% lower crime
Boise's crime index is 55% lower than Austin
Austin
162 (100 = avg)
Boise
Winner73 (100 = avg)
Boise's crime index is 73 versus 162 in Austin (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 55% 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. Austin can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
12% more comfortable
Austin weather is 12% more comfortable than Boise
Austin
Winner68°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Boise
61°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 89/100
Austin averages about 68°F (76°F highs); Boise averages about 61°F (70°F highs). Austin sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Boise averages around 61°F. Austin 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
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 12% higher ($93,658), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 68°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Boise is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 16% 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 fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 55% lower than Austin (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 45/100 in Austin, with typical rent at $1,446 versus $1,729. I would vet the exact ZIP in Austin before trading 25 safety points for housing savings.
Austin still pays more locally ($93,658 median income vs $83,904), which can offset the lease if your field pays Austin rates.
Weather averages land near 68°F in Austin and 61°F in Boise.
If safety drives your move, Boise is the stronger match (70/100 safety versus 45/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Austin, treat $1,729/month rent and $93,658 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
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