City comparison
No. Boise's crime index is 73 versus 124 in Lincoln, and its violent crime index is 85 versus 114, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Lincoln is cheaper. Median rent is $1,086 a month versus $1,446 in Boise.
Safety is where Lincoln and Boise split most clearly. Boise scores 51 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,086 in Lincoln and $1,446 in Boise.
Boise is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Lincoln 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 rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Lincoln at $1,086 average has pockets that run $886 and others at $1,486: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Lincoln and Boise are 1,016 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,086 a month in Lincoln to $1,446 a month in Boise, up $360 a month (33%).
Median household income goes from $71,867 in Lincoln to $83,904 in Boise, up $12,037 (17%).
The crime index goes from 124 in Lincoln to 73 in Boise, down 51 points (41%).
The move
Boise and Lincoln are 1,016 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,446 a month in Boise to $1,086 a month in Lincoln, down $360 a month (25%).
Median household income goes from $83,904 in Boise to $71,867 in Lincoln, down $12,037 (14%).
The crime index goes from 73 in Boise to 124 in Lincoln, up 51 points (70%).
Lincoln, NE
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 Lincoln and Boise? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
25% cheaper
Lincoln rent is 25% cheaper than Boise
Lincoln
Winner$1,086/mo
Boise
$1,446/mo
Typical rent runs $1,086 a month in Lincoln versus $1,446 in Boise, so Lincoln is 25% cheaper. That's roughly $360/month back in your pocket ($4,320/year). Over five years that's $21,600 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, Lincoln is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Boise? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
17% higher
Boise's median income is 17% higher than Lincoln
Lincoln
$71,867
Boise
Winner$83,904
Median household income is $83,904 in Boise versus $71,867 in Lincoln, so typical pay runs 17% higher in Boise (about $12,037 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. Lincoln can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
41% lower crime
Boise's crime index is 41% lower than Lincoln
Lincoln
124 (100 = avg)
Boise
Winner73 (100 = avg)
Boise's crime index is 73 versus 124 in Lincoln (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 41% 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. Lincoln can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
24% more comfortable
Boise weather is 24% more comfortable than Lincoln
Lincoln
55°F avg · 64°F highs · comfort 72/100
Boise
Winner61°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 89/100
Lincoln averages about 55°F (64°F highs); Boise averages about 61°F (70°F highs). Lincoln averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Boise averages around 61°F. Boise scores 24% 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 Lincoln 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 Lincoln
Lincoln is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 25% cheaper here at about $1,086 a month. Choose Lincoln if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 17% 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 41% lower than Lincoln (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 53/100 in Lincoln, with typical rent at $1,446 versus $1,086. I would vet the exact ZIP in Lincoln before trading 17 safety points for housing savings.
Boise still pays more locally ($83,904 median income vs $71,867), which can offset the lease if your field pays Boise rates.
Weather averages land near 55°F in Lincoln and 61°F in Boise.
Boise clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Lincoln deserves a serious look only when you already know the Lincoln block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
Ready to move to Boise?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Boise when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Lincoln and Boise, plus other cities in NE and ID.
