City comparison
No. Boise's crime index is 73 versus 303 in Minneapolis, and its violent crime index is 85 versus 314, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Minneapolis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,371 a month versus $1,446 in Boise.
Safety is where Minneapolis and Boise split most clearly. Boise scores 230 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,371 in Minneapolis 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. Minneapolis 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 crime gap is citywide. Boise has rougher pockets and Minneapolis has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Minneapolis and Boise are 1,135 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,371 a month in Minneapolis to $1,446 a month in Boise, up $75 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $80,846 in Minneapolis to $83,904 in Boise, up $3,058 (4%).
The crime index goes from 303 in Minneapolis to 73 in Boise, down 230 points (76%).
The move
Boise and Minneapolis are 1,135 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,446 a month in Boise to $1,371 a month in Minneapolis, down $75 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $83,904 in Boise to $80,846 in Minneapolis, down $3,058 (4%).
The crime index goes from 73 in Boise to 303 in Minneapolis, up 230 points (315%).
Minneapolis, MN
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 Minneapolis and Boise? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
5% cheaper
Minneapolis rent is 5% cheaper than Boise
Minneapolis
Winner$1,371/mo
Boise
$1,446/mo
Typical rent runs $1,371 a month in Minneapolis versus $1,446 in Boise, so Minneapolis is 5% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $75, or $900 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
4% higher
Boise's median income is 4% higher than Minneapolis
Minneapolis
$80,846
Boise
Winner$83,904
Median household income is $83,904 in Boise versus $80,846 in Minneapolis, so typical pay runs 4% higher in Boise (about $3,058 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
76% lower crime
Boise's crime index is 76% lower than Minneapolis
Minneapolis
303 (100 = avg)
Boise
Winner73 (100 = avg)
Boise's crime index is 73 versus 303 in Minneapolis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 76% 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. Minneapolis 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 Minneapolis
Minneapolis
55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
Boise
Winner61°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 89/100
Minneapolis averages about 55°F (62°F highs); Boise averages about 61°F (70°F highs). Minneapolis 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 Minneapolis 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 Minneapolis
Minneapolis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 5% cheaper here at about $1,371 a month. Choose Minneapolis 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 4% 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 76% lower than Minneapolis (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
Minneapolis carries the heavier crime signal on this page (26/100 safety vs 70/100 in Boise). That 44-point spread matters more than the $75 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (70/100 in Boise vs 26/100 in Minneapolis), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $83,904 in Boise versus $80,846 in Minneapolis.
Pick Boise when you want the stronger safety signal (70/100). Otherwise, Minneapolis's case rests on a Minneapolis ZIP you trust at $1,371 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Minneapolis and Boise, plus other cities in MN and ID.
