City comparison
No. Boise's crime index is 73 versus 350 in New Orleans, and its violent crime index is 85 versus 393, using 2023 FBI data for New Orleans and 2024-2025 FBI data for Boise.
New Orleans is cheaper. Median rent is $1,251 a month versus $1,446 in Boise.
Safety is where New Orleans and Boise split most clearly. Boise scores 277 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,251 in New Orleans and $1,446 in Boise.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. New Orleans 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 crime gap is citywide. Boise has rougher pockets and New Orleans has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
New Orleans and Boise are 1,715 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,251 a month in New Orleans to $1,446 a month in Boise, up $195 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $56,631 in New Orleans to $83,904 in Boise, up $27,273 (48%).
The crime index goes from 350 in New Orleans to 73 in Boise, down 277 points (79%).
The move
Boise and New Orleans are 1,715 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,446 a month in Boise to $1,251 a month in New Orleans, down $195 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $83,904 in Boise to $56,631 in New Orleans, down $27,273 (33%).
The crime index goes from 73 in Boise to 350 in New Orleans, up 277 points (379%).
New Orleans, LA
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 New Orleans and Boise? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
13% cheaper
New Orleans rent is 13% cheaper than Boise
New Orleans
Winner$1,251/mo
Boise
$1,446/mo
Typical rent runs $1,251 a month in New Orleans versus $1,446 in Boise, so New Orleans is 13% 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 $2,340, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. New Orleans 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 New Orleans? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
48% higher
Boise's median income is 48% higher than New Orleans
New Orleans
$56,631
Boise
Winner$83,904
Median household income is $83,904 in Boise versus $56,631 in New Orleans, so typical pay runs 48% higher in Boise (about $27,273 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. New Orleans can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
79% lower crime
Boise's crime index is 79% lower than New Orleans
New Orleans
350 (100 = avg)
Boise
Winner73 (100 = avg)
Boise's crime index is 73 versus 350 in New Orleans (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 79% 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. New Orleans can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
12% more comfortable
New Orleans weather is 12% more comfortable than Boise
New Orleans
Winner73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Boise
61°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 89/100
New Orleans averages about 73°F (81°F highs); Boise averages about 61°F (70°F highs). New Orleans sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Boise averages around 61°F. New Orleans 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
New Orleans is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 13% cheaper here at about $1,251 a month. Choose New Orleans if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick New Orleans if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (73°F) beat Boise on this page's weather index by 12%. Boise may pay more or cost less, but New Orleans 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 48% 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 79% lower than New Orleans (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
Crime and safety tilt toward Boise: Boise scores 70/100 versus 22/100 in New Orleans, with typical rent at $1,446 versus $1,251. I would vet the exact ZIP in New Orleans before trading 48 safety points for housing savings.
New Orleans rent at $1,251/month is still below Boise's $1,446, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 73°F in New Orleans and 61°F in Boise.
If safety drives your move, Boise is the stronger match (70/100 safety versus 22/100). If an employer or family tie already points to New Orleans, treat $1,251/month rent and $56,631 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for New Orleans and Boise, plus other cities in LA and ID.
