City comparison
Boise is safer than Long Beach. Boise's crime index is 73 versus 187 in Long Beach, and its violent crime index is 85 versus 189, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Boise is cheaper. Median rent is $1,446 a month versus $1,871 in Long Beach.
Safety is where Long Beach and Boise split most clearly. Boise scores 114 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,871 in Long Beach and $1,446 in Boise.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Boise costs less and Long Beach 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. Boise at $1,446 average has pockets that run $1,246 and others at $1,846: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Long Beach and Boise are 689 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,871 a month in Long Beach to $1,446 a month in Boise, down $425 a month (23%).
Median household income goes from $87,430 in Long Beach to $83,904 in Boise, down $3,526 (4%).
The crime index goes from 187 in Long Beach to 73 in Boise, down 114 points (61%).
The move
Boise and Long Beach are 689 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,446 a month in Boise to $1,871 a month in Long Beach, up $425 a month (29%).
Median household income goes from $83,904 in Boise to $87,430 in Long Beach, up $3,526 (4%).
The crime index goes from 73 in Boise to 187 in Long Beach, up 114 points (156%).
Long Beach, CA
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 Long Beach and Boise? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
23% cheaper
Boise rent is 23% cheaper than Long Beach
Long Beach
$1,871/mo
Boise
Winner$1,446/mo
Typical rent runs $1,446 a month in Boise versus $1,871 in Long Beach, so Boise is 23% cheaper. That's roughly $425/month back in your pocket ($5,100/year). Over five years that's $25,500 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 Long Beach, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Boise 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
4% higher
Long Beach's median income is 4% higher than Boise
Long Beach
Winner$87,430
Boise
$83,904
Median household income is $87,430 in Long Beach versus $83,904 in Boise, so typical pay runs 4% higher in Long Beach (about $3,526 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
61% lower crime
Boise's crime index is 61% lower than Long Beach
Long Beach
187 (100 = avg)
Boise
Winner73 (100 = avg)
Boise's crime index is 73 versus 187 in Long Beach (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 61% 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. Long Beach can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
25% more comfortable
Long Beach weather is 25% more comfortable than Boise
Long Beach
Winner77°F avg · 84°F highs · comfort 100/100
Boise
58°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 80/100
Long Beach averages about 77°F (84°F highs); Boise averages about 58°F (66°F highs). Long Beach sits near 77°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Boise averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Long Beach scores 25% 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
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 4% higher ($87,430), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 77°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Boise is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 23% 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 fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 61% lower than Long Beach (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
Long Beach carries the heavier crime signal on this page (41/100 safety vs 70/100 in Boise). That 29-point spread matters more than the $425 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (70/100 in Boise vs 41/100 in Long Beach), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,446 in Boise and $1,871 in Long Beach.
Boise clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Long Beach deserves a serious look only when you already know the Long Beach block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Long Beach and Boise, plus other cities in CA and ID.
