City comparison
No. Boise's crime index is 73 versus 91 in Madison, and its violent crime index is 85 versus 68, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Madison is cheaper. Median rent is $1,413 a month versus $1,446 in Boise.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Madison and Boise. Madison averages 52°F while Boise averages 61°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,413 versus $1,446.
Boise is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Madison 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.
Weather is the one thing you cannot negotiate with. Visit Madison in its coldest stretch before you sign anything.
The move
Madison and Boise are 1,341 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,413 a month in Madison to $1,446 a month in Boise, up $33 a month (2%).
Median household income goes from $78,050 in Madison to $83,904 in Boise, up $5,854 (8%).
The crime index goes from 91 in Madison to 73 in Boise, down 18 points (20%).
The move
Boise and Madison are 1,341 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,446 a month in Boise to $1,413 a month in Madison, down $33 a month (2%).
Median household income goes from $83,904 in Boise to $78,050 in Madison, down $5,854 (7%).
The crime index goes from 73 in Boise to 91 in Madison, up 18 points (25%).
Madison, WI
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 Madison and Boise? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
2% cheaper
Madison rent is 2% cheaper than Boise
Madison
Winner$1,413/mo
Boise
$1,446/mo
Typical rent runs $1,413 a month in Madison versus $1,446 in Boise, so Madison is 2% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $33, or $396 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
8% higher
Boise's median income is 8% higher than Madison
Madison
$78,050
Boise
Winner$83,904
Median household income is $83,904 in Boise versus $78,050 in Madison, so typical pay runs 8% higher in Boise (about $5,854 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
20% lower crime
Boise's crime index is 20% lower than Madison
Madison
91 (100 = avg)
Boise
Winner73 (100 = avg)
Boise's crime index is 73 versus 91 in Madison (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 20% 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. Madison can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
39% more comfortable
Boise weather is 39% more comfortable than Madison
Madison
52°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 64/100
Boise
Winner61°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 89/100
Madison averages about 52°F (62°F highs); Boise averages about 61°F (70°F highs). Madison averages around 52°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Boise averages around 61°F. Boise scores 39% 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 Madison 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 Madison
Madison is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 2% cheaper here at about $1,413 a month. Choose Madison 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 8% 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 20% lower than Madison (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
Weather separates these metros: $1,446/month rent in Boise at 61°F versus $1,413 in Madison at 52°F. Income runs $83,904 vs $78,050, but the daily feel of the move is the temperature gap.
Madison rent at $1,413/month is still below Boise's $1,446, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $83,904 in Boise versus $78,050 in Madison.
Most movers who prioritize climate land in Boise; Madison only makes sense when 52°F matches how you want to live year-round.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Boise when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Madison and Boise, plus other cities in WI and ID.
