City comparison
No. Boise's crime index is 73 versus 188 in Dallas, and its violent crime index is 85 versus 179, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Boise is cheaper. Median rent is $1,446 a month versus $1,472 in Dallas.
Safety is where Dallas and Boise split most clearly. Boise scores 115 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,472 in Dallas 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. Dallas 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 Dallas has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Dallas and Boise are 1,287 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Dallas to $1,446 a month in Boise, down $26 a month (2%).
Median household income goes from $70,518 in Dallas to $83,904 in Boise, up $13,386 (19%).
The crime index goes from 188 in Dallas to 73 in Boise, down 115 points (61%).
The move
Boise and Dallas are 1,287 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,446 a month in Boise to $1,472 a month in Dallas, up $26 a month (2%).
Median household income goes from $83,904 in Boise to $70,518 in Dallas, down $13,386 (16%).
The crime index goes from 73 in Boise to 188 in Dallas, up 115 points (158%).
Dallas, TX
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 Dallas and Boise? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
2% cheaper
Boise rent is 2% cheaper than Dallas
Dallas
$1,472/mo
Boise
Winner$1,446/mo
Typical rent runs $1,446 a month in Boise versus $1,472 in Dallas, 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
19% higher
Boise's median income is 19% higher than Dallas
Dallas
$70,518
Boise
Winner$83,904
Median household income is $83,904 in Boise versus $70,518 in Dallas, so typical pay runs 19% higher in Boise (about $13,386 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. Dallas can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
61% lower crime
Boise's crime index is 61% lower than Dallas
Dallas
188 (100 = avg)
Boise
Winner73 (100 = avg)
Boise's crime index is 73 versus 188 in Dallas (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 61% 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. Dallas can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
12% more comfortable
Dallas weather is 12% more comfortable than Boise
Dallas
Winner67°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 100/100
Boise
61°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 89/100
Dallas averages about 67°F (74°F highs); Boise averages about 61°F (70°F highs). Dallas sits near 67°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Boise averages around 61°F. Dallas 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 Dallas if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (67°F) beat Boise on this page's weather index by 12%. Boise may pay more or cost less, but Dallas 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 19% 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 61% lower than Dallas (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 41/100 in Dallas). Typical rent is $1,446 in Boise and $1,472 in Dallas; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Safety still diverges (70/100 in Boise vs 41/100 in Dallas), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Weather averages land near 67°F in Dallas and 61°F in Boise.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Boise; Dallas only makes sense when you have walked the Dallas ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,472 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Dallas and Boise, plus other cities in TX and ID.
