City comparison
No. Boise's crime index is 73 versus 87 in El Paso, and its violent crime index is 85 versus 88, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
El Paso is cheaper. Median rent is $1,073 a month versus $1,446 in Boise.
The income gap between El Paso and Boise is significant: $59,745 median household versus $83,904. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,073 in El Paso and $1,446 in Boise.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. El Paso costs less and Boise 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 rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. El Paso at $1,073 average has pockets that run $873 and others at $1,473: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
El Paso and Boise are 975 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,073 a month in El Paso to $1,446 a month in Boise, up $373 a month (35%).
Median household income goes from $59,745 in El Paso to $83,904 in Boise, up $24,159 (40%).
The crime index goes from 87 in El Paso to 73 in Boise, down 14 points (16%).
The move
Boise and El Paso are 975 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,446 a month in Boise to $1,073 a month in El Paso, down $373 a month (26%).
Median household income goes from $83,904 in Boise to $59,745 in El Paso, down $24,159 (29%).
The crime index goes from 73 in Boise to 87 in El Paso, up 14 points (19%).
El Paso, 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 El Paso and Boise? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
26% cheaper
El Paso rent is 26% cheaper than Boise
El Paso
Winner$1,073/mo
Boise
$1,446/mo
Typical rent runs $1,073 a month in El Paso versus $1,446 in Boise, so El Paso is 26% cheaper. That's roughly $373/month back in your pocket ($4,476/year). Over five years that's $22,380 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, El Paso is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in El Paso? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
40% higher
Boise's median income is 40% higher than El Paso
El Paso
$59,745
Boise
Winner$83,904
Median household income is $83,904 in Boise versus $59,745 in El Paso, so typical pay runs 40% higher in Boise (about $24,159 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. El Paso can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
16% lower crime
Boise's crime index is 16% lower than El Paso
El Paso
87 (100 = avg)
Boise
Winner73 (100 = avg)
Boise's crime index is 73 versus 87 in El Paso (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 16% 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. El Paso can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
12% more comfortable
El Paso weather is 12% more comfortable than Boise
El Paso
Winner66°F avg · 72°F highs · comfort 100/100
Boise
61°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 89/100
El Paso averages about 66°F (72°F highs); Boise averages about 61°F (70°F highs). El Paso sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Boise averages around 61°F. El Paso 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
El Paso is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 26% cheaper here at about $1,073 a month. Choose El Paso if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick El Paso if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (66°F) beat Boise on this page's weather index by 12%. Boise may pay more or cost less, but El Paso is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Boise is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 40% 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 16% lower than El Paso (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
El Paso is cheaper on rent ($1,073/month vs $1,446), but Boise's $83,904 median income beats El Paso's $59,745 by 29%. Remote workers paid on Boise scales can make that trade; local-market earners often cannot.
Boise still pays more locally ($83,904 median income vs $59,745), which can offset the lease if your field pays Boise rates.
Safety scores read 64/100 in El Paso and 70/100 in Boise.
Boise leads on local pay ($83,904 median income vs $59,745), even though rent runs $1,446 versus $1,073 — skip Boise only if you are optimizing for the cheaper lease, not the paycheck.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for El Paso and Boise, plus other cities in TX and ID.
