City comparison
No. Boise's crime index is 73 versus 189 in Lubbock, and its violent crime index is 85 versus 221, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Lubbock is cheaper. Median rent is $1,182 a month versus $1,446 in Boise.
Safety is where Lubbock and Boise split most clearly. Boise scores 116 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,182 in Lubbock and $1,446 in Boise.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Lubbock 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 rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Lubbock at $1,182 average has pockets that run $982 and others at $1,582: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Lubbock and Boise are 1,037 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,182 a month in Lubbock to $1,446 a month in Boise, up $264 a month (22%).
Median household income goes from $60,895 in Lubbock to $83,904 in Boise, up $23,009 (38%).
The crime index goes from 189 in Lubbock to 73 in Boise, down 116 points (61%).
The move
Boise and Lubbock are 1,037 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,446 a month in Boise to $1,182 a month in Lubbock, down $264 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $83,904 in Boise to $60,895 in Lubbock, down $23,009 (27%).
The crime index goes from 73 in Boise to 189 in Lubbock, up 116 points (159%).
Lubbock, 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 Lubbock and Boise? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
18% cheaper
Lubbock rent is 18% cheaper than Boise
Lubbock
Winner$1,182/mo
Boise
$1,446/mo
Typical rent runs $1,182 a month in Lubbock versus $1,446 in Boise, so Lubbock is 18% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $3,168, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Lubbock still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Boise.
Planning to buy in Lubbock? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
38% higher
Boise's median income is 38% higher than Lubbock
Lubbock
$60,895
Boise
Winner$83,904
Median household income is $83,904 in Boise versus $60,895 in Lubbock, so typical pay runs 38% higher in Boise (about $23,009 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. Lubbock can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
61% lower crime
Boise's crime index is 61% lower than Lubbock
Lubbock
189 (100 = avg)
Boise
Winner73 (100 = avg)
Boise's crime index is 73 versus 189 in Lubbock (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. Lubbock can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
3% more comfortable
Lubbock weather is 3% more comfortable than Boise
Lubbock
Winner62°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 92/100
Boise
61°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 89/100
Lubbock averages about 62°F (70°F highs); Boise averages about 61°F (70°F highs). Lubbock averages around 62°F. Boise averages around 61°F. Lubbock scores 3% 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
Lubbock is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 18% cheaper here at about $1,182 a month. Choose Lubbock if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Lubbock if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (62°F) beat Boise on this page's weather index by 3%. Boise may pay more or cost less, but Lubbock 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 38% 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 61% lower than Lubbock (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
Lubbock carries the heavier crime signal on this page (41/100 safety vs 70/100 in Boise). That 29-point spread matters more than the $264 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Lubbock rent at $1,182/month is still below Boise's $1,446, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,182 in Lubbock and $1,446 in Boise.
If safety drives your move, Boise is the stronger match (70/100 safety versus 41/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Lubbock, treat $1,182/month rent and $60,895 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
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