City comparison
No. Boise's crime index is 73 versus 135 in Fort Worth, and its violent crime index is 85 versus 121, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Boise is cheaper. Median rent is $1,446 a month versus $1,509 in Fort Worth.
Safety is where Fort Worth and Boise split most clearly. Boise scores 62 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,509 in Fort Worth 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. Fort Worth 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 Fort Worth has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Fort Worth and Boise are 1,267 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,509 a month in Fort Worth to $1,446 a month in Boise, down $63 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $79,507 in Fort Worth to $83,904 in Boise, up $4,397 (6%).
The crime index goes from 135 in Fort Worth to 73 in Boise, down 62 points (46%).
The move
Boise and Fort Worth are 1,267 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,446 a month in Boise to $1,509 a month in Fort Worth, up $63 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $83,904 in Boise to $79,507 in Fort Worth, down $4,397 (5%).
The crime index goes from 73 in Boise to 135 in Fort Worth, up 62 points (85%).
Fort Worth, 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 Fort Worth and Boise? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
4% cheaper
Boise rent is 4% cheaper than Fort Worth
Fort Worth
$1,509/mo
Boise
Winner$1,446/mo
Typical rent runs $1,446 a month in Boise versus $1,509 in Fort Worth, so Boise is 4% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $63, or $756 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
6% higher
Boise's median income is 6% higher than Fort Worth
Fort Worth
$79,507
Boise
Winner$83,904
Median household income is $83,904 in Boise versus $79,507 in Fort Worth, so typical pay runs 6% higher in Boise (about $4,397 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
46% lower crime
Boise's crime index is 46% lower than Fort Worth
Fort Worth
135 (100 = avg)
Boise
Winner73 (100 = avg)
Boise's crime index is 73 versus 135 in Fort Worth (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 46% 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. Fort Worth can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
12% more comfortable
Fort Worth weather is 12% more comfortable than Boise
Fort Worth
Winner66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Boise
61°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 89/100
Fort Worth averages about 66°F (73°F highs); Boise averages about 61°F (70°F highs). Fort Worth sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Boise averages around 61°F. Fort Worth 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 Fort Worth 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 Fort Worth 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 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.
Boise is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 6% 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 46% lower than Fort Worth (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
Fort Worth carries the heavier crime signal on this page (51/100 safety vs 70/100 in Boise). That 19-point spread matters more than the $63 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (70/100 in Boise vs 51/100 in Fort Worth), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $83,904 in Boise versus $79,507 in Fort Worth.
If safety drives your move, Boise is the stronger match (70/100 safety versus 51/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Fort Worth, treat $1,509/month rent and $79,507 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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