City comparison
No. Boise's crime index is 73 versus 495 in Memphis, and its violent crime index is 85 versus 629, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Memphis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,181 a month versus $1,446 in Boise.
Safety is where Memphis and Boise split most clearly. Boise scores 422 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,181 in Memphis and $1,446 in Boise.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Memphis 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. Memphis at $1,181 average has pockets that run $981 and others at $1,581: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Memphis and Boise are 1,506 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,181 a month in Memphis to $1,446 a month in Boise, up $265 a month (22%).
Median household income goes from $51,736 in Memphis to $83,904 in Boise, up $32,168 (62%).
The crime index goes from 495 in Memphis to 73 in Boise, down 422 points (85%).
The move
Boise and Memphis are 1,506 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,446 a month in Boise to $1,181 a month in Memphis, down $265 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $83,904 in Boise to $51,736 in Memphis, down $32,168 (38%).
The crime index goes from 73 in Boise to 495 in Memphis, up 422 points (578%).
Memphis, TN
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 Memphis and Boise? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
18% cheaper
Memphis rent is 18% cheaper than Boise
Memphis
Winner$1,181/mo
Boise
$1,446/mo
Typical rent runs $1,181 a month in Memphis versus $1,446 in Boise, so Memphis 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 $3,180, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Memphis 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 Memphis? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
62% higher
Boise's median income is 62% higher than Memphis
Memphis
$51,736
Boise
Winner$83,904
Median household income is $83,904 in Boise versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 62% higher in Boise (about $32,168 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. Memphis can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
85% lower crime
Boise's crime index is 85% lower than Memphis
Memphis
495 (100 = avg)
Boise
Winner73 (100 = avg)
Boise's crime index is 73 versus 495 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 85% 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. Memphis can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
12% more comfortable
Memphis weather is 12% more comfortable than Boise
Memphis
Winner68°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Boise
61°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 89/100
Memphis averages about 68°F (78°F highs); Boise averages about 61°F (70°F highs). Memphis sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Boise averages around 61°F. Memphis scores 12% 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
Memphis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 18% cheaper here at about $1,181 a month. Choose Memphis if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Memphis if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (68°F) beat Boise on this page's weather index by 12%. Boise may pay more or cost less, but Memphis 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 62% 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 85% lower than Memphis (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 11/100 in Memphis. Rent is $1,446/month in Boise and $1,181/month in Memphis, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Memphis rent at $1,181/month is still below Boise's $1,446, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,181 in Memphis and $1,446 in Boise.
Boise is ahead on safety (70/100 vs 11/100); Memphis is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,181/month rent plus $51,736 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Memphis and Boise, plus other cities in TN and ID.
