City comparison
No. Boise's crime index is 73 versus 150 in Jacksonville, and its violent crime index is 85 versus 155, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Boise is cheaper. Median rent is $1,446 a month versus $1,465 in Jacksonville.
Safety is where Jacksonville and Boise split most clearly. Boise scores 77 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,465 in Jacksonville 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. Jacksonville 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 Jacksonville has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Jacksonville and Boise are 2,096 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,465 a month in Jacksonville to $1,446 a month in Boise, down $19 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $69,872 in Jacksonville to $83,904 in Boise, up $14,032 (20%).
The crime index goes from 150 in Jacksonville to 73 in Boise, down 77 points (51%).
The move
Boise and Jacksonville are 2,096 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,446 a month in Boise to $1,465 a month in Jacksonville, up $19 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $83,904 in Boise to $69,872 in Jacksonville, down $14,032 (17%).
The crime index goes from 73 in Boise to 150 in Jacksonville, up 77 points (105%).
Jacksonville, FL
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 Jacksonville and Boise? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
1% cheaper
Boise rent is 1% cheaper than Jacksonville
Jacksonville
$1,465/mo
Boise
Winner$1,446/mo
Typical rent runs $1,446 a month in Boise versus $1,465 in Jacksonville, so Boise is 1% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $19, or $228 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
20% higher
Boise's median income is 20% higher than Jacksonville
Jacksonville
$69,872
Boise
Winner$83,904
Median household income is $83,904 in Boise versus $69,872 in Jacksonville, so typical pay runs 20% higher in Boise (about $14,032 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. Jacksonville can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
51% lower crime
Boise's crime index is 51% lower than Jacksonville
Jacksonville
150 (100 = avg)
Boise
Winner73 (100 = avg)
Boise's crime index is 73 versus 150 in Jacksonville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 51% 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. Jacksonville can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
10% more comfortable
Jacksonville weather is 10% more comfortable than Boise
Jacksonville
Winner73°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 98/100
Boise
61°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 89/100
Jacksonville averages about 73°F (80°F highs); Boise averages about 61°F (70°F highs). Jacksonville sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Boise averages around 61°F. Jacksonville scores 10% 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 Jacksonville if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (73°F) beat Boise on this page's weather index by 10%. Boise may pay more or cost less, but Jacksonville 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 1% 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 20% 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 51% lower than Jacksonville (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
Safety is the widest gap: Boise scores 70/100 versus 48/100 in Jacksonville. Typical rent is the same $1,446/month in both cities, so you are choosing streets and blocks, not a cheaper lease.
Median income is $83,904 in Boise versus $69,872 in Jacksonville — with rent matched, the paycheck gap matters more.
Weather averages land near 73°F in Jacksonville and 61°F in Boise.
Boise is ahead on safety (70/100 vs 48/100); Jacksonville is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,465/month rent plus $69,872 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Jacksonville and Boise, plus other cities in FL and ID.
