City comparison
No. Boise's crime index is 73 versus 148 in Bakersfield, and its violent crime index is 85 versus 152, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Boise is cheaper. Median rent is $1,446 a month versus $1,472 in Bakersfield.
Safety is where Bakersfield and Boise split most clearly. Boise scores 75 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,472 in Bakersfield 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. Bakersfield 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 Bakersfield has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Bakersfield and Boise are 589 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Bakersfield to $1,446 a month in Boise, down $26 a month (2%).
Median household income goes from $80,540 in Bakersfield to $83,904 in Boise, up $3,364 (4%).
The crime index goes from 148 in Bakersfield to 73 in Boise, down 75 points (51%).
The move
Boise and Bakersfield are 589 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,446 a month in Boise to $1,472 a month in Bakersfield, up $26 a month (2%).
Median household income goes from $83,904 in Boise to $80,540 in Bakersfield, down $3,364 (4%).
The crime index goes from 73 in Boise to 148 in Bakersfield, up 75 points (103%).
Bakersfield, CA
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 Bakersfield and Boise? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
2% cheaper
Boise rent is 2% cheaper than Bakersfield
Bakersfield
$1,472/mo
Boise
Winner$1,446/mo
Typical rent runs $1,446 a month in Boise versus $1,472 in Bakersfield, so Boise is 2% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $26, or $312 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
4% higher
Boise's median income is 4% higher than Bakersfield
Bakersfield
$80,540
Boise
Winner$83,904
Median household income is $83,904 in Boise versus $80,540 in Bakersfield, so typical pay runs 4% higher in Boise (about $3,364 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
51% lower crime
Boise's crime index is 51% lower than Bakersfield
Bakersfield
148 (100 = avg)
Boise
Winner73 (100 = avg)
Boise's crime index is 73 versus 148 in Bakersfield (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 51% 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. Bakersfield can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
12% more comfortable
Bakersfield weather is 12% more comfortable than Boise
Bakersfield
Winner73°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Boise
61°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 89/100
Bakersfield averages about 73°F (87°F highs); Boise averages about 61°F (70°F highs). Bakersfield sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Boise averages around 61°F. Bakersfield 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 Bakersfield if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (73°F) beat Boise on this page's weather index by 12%. Boise may pay more or cost less, but Bakersfield 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 4% 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 51% lower than Bakersfield (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
Bakersfield carries the heavier crime signal on this page (48/100 safety vs 70/100 in Boise). That 22-point spread matters more than the $26 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (70/100 in Boise vs 48/100 in Bakersfield), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $83,904 in Boise versus $80,540 in Bakersfield.
Pick Boise when you want the stronger safety signal (70/100). Otherwise, Bakersfield's case rests on a Bakersfield ZIP you trust at $1,472 rent.
Common questions
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