City comparison
No. Boise's crime index is 73 versus 231 in Cincinnati, and its violent crime index is 85 versus 237, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Cincinnati is cheaper. Median rent is $1,001 a month versus $1,446 in Boise.
Safety is where Cincinnati and Boise split most clearly. Boise scores 158 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,001 in Cincinnati and $1,446 in Boise.
Boise is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Cincinnati 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 rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Cincinnati at $1,001 average has pockets that run $801 and others at $1,401: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Cincinnati and Boise are 1,662 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,001 a month in Cincinnati to $1,446 a month in Boise, up $445 a month (44%).
Median household income goes from $52,909 in Cincinnati to $83,904 in Boise, up $30,995 (59%).
The crime index goes from 231 in Cincinnati to 73 in Boise, down 158 points (68%).
The move
Boise and Cincinnati are 1,662 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,446 a month in Boise to $1,001 a month in Cincinnati, down $445 a month (31%).
Median household income goes from $83,904 in Boise to $52,909 in Cincinnati, down $30,995 (37%).
The crime index goes from 73 in Boise to 231 in Cincinnati, up 158 points (216%).
Cincinnati, OH
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 Cincinnati and Boise? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
31% cheaper
Cincinnati rent is 31% cheaper than Boise
Cincinnati
Winner$1,001/mo
Boise
$1,446/mo
Typical rent runs $1,001 a month in Cincinnati versus $1,446 in Boise, so Cincinnati is 31% cheaper. That's roughly $445/month back in your pocket ($5,340/year). Over five years that's $26,700 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Boise, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Cincinnati is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Boise? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
59% higher
Boise's median income is 59% higher than Cincinnati
Cincinnati
$52,909
Boise
Winner$83,904
Median household income is $83,904 in Boise versus $52,909 in Cincinnati, so typical pay runs 59% higher in Boise (about $30,995 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. Cincinnati can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
68% lower crime
Boise's crime index is 68% lower than Cincinnati
Cincinnati
231 (100 = avg)
Boise
Winner73 (100 = avg)
Boise's crime index is 73 versus 231 in Cincinnati (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 68% 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. Cincinnati can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
35% more comfortable
Boise weather is 35% more comfortable than Cincinnati
Cincinnati
53°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 66/100
Boise
Winner61°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 89/100
Cincinnati averages about 53°F (62°F highs); Boise averages about 61°F (70°F highs). Cincinnati averages around 53°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Boise averages around 61°F. Boise scores 35% 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 Cincinnati if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Cincinnati
Cincinnati is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 31% cheaper here at about $1,001 a month. Choose Cincinnati if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
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 59% 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 68% lower than Cincinnati (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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Boise leads on safety (70/100 vs 35/100 in Cincinnati). Typical rent is $1,446 in Boise and $1,001 in Cincinnati; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Cincinnati rent at $1,001/month is still below Boise's $1,446, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,001 in Cincinnati and $1,446 in Boise.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Boise; Cincinnati only makes sense when you have walked the Cincinnati ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,001 rent.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Cincinnati and Boise, plus other cities in OH and ID.
