City comparison
No. Boise's crime index is 73 versus 193 in Durham, and its violent crime index is 85 versus 163, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Boise is cheaper. Median rent is $1,446 a month versus $1,508 in Durham.
Safety is where Durham and Boise split most clearly. Boise scores 120 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,508 in Durham and $1,446 in Boise.
Boise is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Durham 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 Durham has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Durham and Boise are 2,030 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,508 a month in Durham to $1,446 a month in Boise, down $62 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $81,619 in Durham to $83,904 in Boise, up $2,285 (3%).
The crime index goes from 193 in Durham to 73 in Boise, down 120 points (62%).
The move
Boise and Durham are 2,030 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,446 a month in Boise to $1,508 a month in Durham, up $62 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $83,904 in Boise to $81,619 in Durham, down $2,285 (3%).
The crime index goes from 73 in Boise to 193 in Durham, up 120 points (164%).
Durham, NC
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 Durham and Boise? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
4% cheaper
Boise rent is 4% cheaper than Durham
Durham
$1,508/mo
Boise
Winner$1,446/mo
Typical rent runs $1,446 a month in Boise versus $1,508 in Durham, so Boise is 4% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $62, or $744 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
3% higher
Boise's median income is 3% higher than Durham
Durham
$81,619
Boise
Winner$83,904
Median household income is $83,904 in Boise versus $81,619 in Durham, so typical pay runs 3% higher in Boise (about $2,285 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
62% lower crime
Boise's crime index is 62% lower than Durham
Durham
193 (100 = avg)
Boise
Winner73 (100 = avg)
Boise's crime index is 73 versus 193 in Durham (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 62% 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. Durham can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
7% more comfortable
Boise weather is 7% more comfortable than Durham
Durham
59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
Boise
Winner61°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 89/100
Durham averages about 59°F (68°F highs); Boise averages about 61°F (70°F highs). Durham averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Boise averages around 61°F. Boise scores 7% 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 Durham 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 Durham
On these five categories Boise takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose Durham because the stats are kinder. They are not. Choose Durham only if a job offer, family, a specific neighborhood, or a life you already started there outweighs the box score. Plenty of good moves ignore the aggregate; just do it on purpose.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
Boise is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 4% 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.
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 3% 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 62% lower than Durham (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 40/100 in Durham, with typical rent at $1,446 versus $1,508. I would vet the exact ZIP in Durham before trading 30 safety points for housing savings.
Safety still diverges (70/100 in Boise vs 40/100 in Durham), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $83,904 in Boise versus $81,619 in Durham.
If safety drives your move, Boise is the stronger match (70/100 safety versus 40/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Durham, treat $1,508/month rent and $81,619 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
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