City comparison
Yes. Boise's crime index is 73 versus 169 in Richmond, and its violent crime index is 85 versus 122, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Richmond is cheaper. Median rent is $1,372 a month versus $1,446 in Boise.
Safety is where Boise and Richmond split most clearly. Boise scores 96 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,446 in Boise and $1,372 in Richmond.
Boise is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Richmond 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 Richmond has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Boise and Richmond are 2,056 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,446 a month in Boise to $1,372 a month in Richmond, down $74 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $83,904 in Boise to $64,587 in Richmond, down $19,317 (23%).
The crime index goes from 73 in Boise to 169 in Richmond, up 96 points (132%).
The move
Richmond and Boise are 2,056 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,372 a month in Richmond to $1,446 a month in Boise, up $74 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $64,587 in Richmond to $83,904 in Boise, up $19,317 (30%).
The crime index goes from 169 in Richmond to 73 in Boise, down 96 points (57%).
Boise, ID
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Richmond, VA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Boise and Richmond? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
5% cheaper
Richmond rent is 5% cheaper than Boise
Boise
$1,446/mo
Richmond
Winner$1,372/mo
Typical rent runs $1,372 a month in Richmond versus $1,446 in Boise, so Richmond is 5% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $74, or $888 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
30% higher
Boise's median income is 30% higher than Richmond
Boise
Winner$83,904
Richmond
$64,587
Median household income is $83,904 in Boise versus $64,587 in Richmond, so typical pay runs 30% higher in Boise (about $19,317 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. Richmond can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
57% lower crime
Boise's crime index is 57% lower than Richmond
Boise
Winner73 (100 = avg)
Richmond
169 (100 = avg)
Boise's crime index is 73 versus 169 in Richmond (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 57% 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. Richmond can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
14% more comfortable
Boise weather is 14% more comfortable than Richmond
Boise
Winner61°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 89/100
Richmond
57°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 78/100
Boise averages about 61°F (70°F highs); Richmond averages about 57°F (66°F highs). Boise averages around 61°F. Richmond averages around 57°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Boise scores 14% 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 Richmond 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 30% higher ($83,904), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 61°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Boise is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 57% lower than Richmond (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.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Richmond
Richmond is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 5% cheaper here at about $1,372 a month. Choose Richmond if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Safety is the widest gap: Boise scores 70/100 versus 44/100 in Richmond. Rent is $1,446/month in Boise and $1,372/month in Richmond, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Richmond rent at $1,372/month is still below Boise's $1,446, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 61°F in Boise and 57°F in Richmond.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Boise; Richmond only makes sense when you have walked the Richmond ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,372 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Boise and Richmond, plus other cities in ID and VA.
