City comparison
No. Boise's crime index is 73 versus 338 in Baltimore, and its violent crime index is 85 versus 428, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Baltimore is cheaper. Median rent is $1,331 a month versus $1,446 in Boise.
Safety is where Baltimore and Boise split most clearly. Boise scores 265 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,331 in Baltimore and $1,446 in Boise.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Baltimore costs less and Boise 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 crime gap is citywide. Boise has rougher pockets and Baltimore has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Baltimore and Boise are 2,052 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,331 a month in Baltimore to $1,446 a month in Boise, up $115 a month (9%).
Median household income goes from $62,177 in Baltimore to $83,904 in Boise, up $21,727 (35%).
The crime index goes from 338 in Baltimore to 73 in Boise, down 265 points (78%).
The move
Boise and Baltimore are 2,052 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,446 a month in Boise to $1,331 a month in Baltimore, down $115 a month (8%).
Median household income goes from $83,904 in Boise to $62,177 in Baltimore, down $21,727 (26%).
The crime index goes from 73 in Boise to 338 in Baltimore, up 265 points (363%).
Baltimore, MD
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 Baltimore and Boise? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
8% cheaper
Baltimore rent is 8% cheaper than Boise
Baltimore
Winner$1,331/mo
Boise
$1,446/mo
Typical rent runs $1,331 a month in Baltimore versus $1,446 in Boise, so Baltimore is 8% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $115, or $1,380 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 Baltimore? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
35% higher
Boise's median income is 35% higher than Baltimore
Baltimore
$62,177
Boise
Winner$83,904
Median household income is $83,904 in Boise versus $62,177 in Baltimore, so typical pay runs 35% higher in Boise (about $21,727 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. Baltimore can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
78% lower crime
Boise's crime index is 78% lower than Baltimore
Baltimore
338 (100 = avg)
Boise
Winner73 (100 = avg)
Boise's crime index is 73 versus 338 in Baltimore (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 78% 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. Baltimore can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
4% more comfortable
Baltimore weather is 4% more comfortable than Boise
Baltimore
Winner55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
Boise
54°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 69/100
Baltimore averages about 55°F (62°F highs); Boise averages about 54°F (62°F highs). Baltimore averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Boise averages around 54°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Baltimore scores 4% 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
Baltimore is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 8% cheaper here at about $1,331 a month. Choose Baltimore if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Baltimore if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (55°F) beat Boise on this page's weather index by 4%. Boise may pay more or cost less, but Baltimore is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Boise is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 35% 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 78% lower than Baltimore (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
Baltimore carries the heavier crime signal on this page (23/100 safety vs 70/100 in Boise). That 47-point spread matters more than the $115 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Baltimore rent at $1,331/month is still below Boise's $1,446, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,331 in Baltimore and $1,446 in Boise.
If safety drives your move, Boise is the stronger match (70/100 safety versus 23/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Baltimore, treat $1,331/month rent and $62,177 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Baltimore and Boise, plus other cities in MD and ID.
