City comparison
No. Boise's crime index is 73 versus 200 in Colorado Springs, and its violent crime index is 85 versus 204, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Boise is cheaper. Median rent is $1,446 a month versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs.
Safety is where Colorado Springs and Boise split most clearly. Boise scores 127 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,648 in Colorado Springs and $1,446 in Boise.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Boise costs less and Colorado Springs 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 Colorado Springs has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Colorado Springs and Boise are 677 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs to $1,446 a month in Boise, down $202 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $84,818 in Colorado Springs to $83,904 in Boise, down $914 (1%).
The crime index goes from 200 in Colorado Springs to 73 in Boise, down 127 points (64%).
The move
Boise and Colorado Springs are 677 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,446 a month in Boise to $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs, up $202 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $83,904 in Boise to $84,818 in Colorado Springs, up $914 (1%).
The crime index goes from 73 in Boise to 200 in Colorado Springs, up 127 points (174%).
Colorado Springs, CO
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 Colorado Springs and Boise? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
12% cheaper
Boise rent is 12% cheaper than Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
$1,648/mo
Boise
Winner$1,446/mo
Typical rent runs $1,446 a month in Boise versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs, so Boise is 12% 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 $2,424, 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 Colorado Springs.
Planning to buy in Boise? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
1% higher
Colorado Springs's median income is 1% higher than Boise
Colorado Springs
Winner$84,818
Boise
$83,904
Median household income is $84,818 in Colorado Springs versus $83,904 in Boise, so typical pay runs 1% higher in Colorado Springs (about $914 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
64% lower crime
Boise's crime index is 64% lower than Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
200 (100 = avg)
Boise
Winner73 (100 = avg)
Boise's crime index is 73 versus 200 in Colorado Springs (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 64% 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. Colorado Springs can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
4% more comfortable
Colorado Springs weather is 4% more comfortable than Boise
Colorado Springs
Winner55°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 72/100
Boise
54°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 69/100
Colorado Springs averages about 55°F (63°F highs); Boise averages about 54°F (62°F highs). Colorado Springs 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. Colorado Springs 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
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 1% higher ($84,818), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 55°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 12% 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 64% lower than Colorado Springs (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 39/100 in Colorado Springs, with typical rent at $1,446 versus $1,648. I would vet the exact ZIP in Colorado Springs before trading 31 safety points for housing savings.
Colorado Springs still pays more locally ($84,818 median income vs $83,904), which can offset the lease if your field pays Colorado Springs rates.
Weather averages land near 55°F in Colorado Springs and 54°F in Boise.
If safety drives your move, Boise is the stronger match (70/100 safety versus 39/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Colorado Springs, treat $1,648/month rent and $84,818 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
Ready to move to Boise?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Boise when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Colorado Springs and Boise, plus other cities in CO and ID.
