City comparison
No. Boise's crime index is 73 versus 270 in Houston, and its violent crime index is 85 versus 294, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Houston is cheaper. Median rent is $1,361 a month versus $1,446 in Boise.
Safety is where Houston and Boise split most clearly. Boise scores 197 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,361 in Houston and $1,446 in Boise.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Houston 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 crime gap is citywide. Boise has rougher pockets and Houston has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Houston and Boise are 1,492 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,361 a month in Houston to $1,446 a month in Boise, up $85 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $64,813 in Houston to $83,904 in Boise, up $19,091 (29%).
The crime index goes from 270 in Houston to 73 in Boise, down 197 points (73%).
The move
Boise and Houston are 1,492 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,446 a month in Boise to $1,361 a month in Houston, down $85 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $83,904 in Boise to $64,813 in Houston, down $19,091 (23%).
The crime index goes from 73 in Boise to 270 in Houston, up 197 points (270%).
Houston, 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 Houston and Boise? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
6% cheaper
Houston rent is 6% cheaper than Boise
Houston
Winner$1,361/mo
Boise
$1,446/mo
Typical rent runs $1,361 a month in Houston versus $1,446 in Boise, so Houston is 6% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $85, or $1,020 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 Houston? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
29% higher
Boise's median income is 29% higher than Houston
Houston
$64,813
Boise
Winner$83,904
Median household income is $83,904 in Boise versus $64,813 in Houston, so typical pay runs 29% higher in Boise (about $19,091 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. Houston can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
73% lower crime
Boise's crime index is 73% lower than Houston
Houston
270 (100 = avg)
Boise
Winner73 (100 = avg)
Boise's crime index is 73 versus 270 in Houston (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 73% 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. Houston can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
12% more comfortable
Houston weather is 12% more comfortable than Boise
Houston
Winner70°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Boise
61°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 89/100
Houston averages about 70°F (78°F highs); Boise averages about 61°F (70°F highs). Houston sits near 70°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Boise averages around 61°F. Houston 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
Houston is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 6% cheaper here at about $1,361 a month. Choose Houston if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Houston if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (70°F) beat Boise on this page's weather index by 12%. Boise may pay more or cost less, but Houston 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 29% 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 73% lower than Houston (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
Houston carries the heavier crime signal on this page (30/100 safety vs 70/100 in Boise). That 40-point spread matters more than the $85 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Houston rent at $1,361/month is still below Boise's $1,446, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 70°F in Houston and 61°F in Boise.
If safety drives your move, Boise is the stronger match (70/100 safety versus 30/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Houston, treat $1,361/month rent and $64,813 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Houston and Boise, plus other cities in TX and ID.
