City comparison
No. Boise's crime index is 73 versus 169 in New York, and its violent crime index is 85 versus 195, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Boise is cheaper. Median rent is $1,446 a month versus $1,821 in New York.
Safety is where New York and Boise split most clearly. Boise scores 96 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,821 in New York and $1,446 in Boise.
Boise is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. New York 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 rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Boise at $1,446 average has pockets that run $1,246 and others at $1,846: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
New York and Boise are 2,147 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,821 a month in New York to $1,446 a month in Boise, down $375 a month (21%).
Median household income goes from $80,483 in New York to $83,904 in Boise, up $3,421 (4%).
The crime index goes from 169 in New York to 73 in Boise, down 96 points (57%).
The move
Boise and New York are 2,147 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,446 a month in Boise to $1,821 a month in New York, up $375 a month (26%).
Median household income goes from $83,904 in Boise to $80,483 in New York, down $3,421 (4%).
The crime index goes from 73 in Boise to 169 in New York, up 96 points (132%).
New York, NY
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 York and Boise? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
21% cheaper
Boise rent is 21% cheaper than New York
New York
$1,821/mo
Boise
Winner$1,446/mo
Typical rent runs $1,446 a month in Boise versus $1,821 in New York, so Boise is 21% cheaper. That's roughly $375/month back in your pocket ($4,500/year). Over five years that's $22,500 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in New York, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Boise is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Boise? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
4% higher
Boise's median income is 4% higher than New York
New York
$80,483
Boise
Winner$83,904
Median household income is $83,904 in Boise versus $80,483 in New York, so typical pay runs 4% higher in Boise (about $3,421 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
57% lower crime
Boise's crime index is 57% lower than New York
New York
169 (100 = avg)
Boise
Winner73 (100 = avg)
Boise's crime index is 73 versus 169 in New York (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 57% 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 York 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 New York
New York
52°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 64/100
Boise
Winner61°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 89/100
New York averages about 52°F (58°F highs); Boise averages about 61°F (70°F highs). New York 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 New York 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 New York
On these five categories Boise takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose New York because the stats are kinder. They are not. Choose New York only if a job offer, family, a specific neighborhood, or a life you already started there outweighs the box score. Plenty of good moves ignore the aggregate; just do it on purpose.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
Boise is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 21% cheaper here at about $1,446 a month. Choose Boise if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
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 57% lower than New York (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 44/100 in New York. Rent is $1,446/month in Boise and $1,821/month in New York, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Safety still diverges (70/100 in Boise vs 44/100 in New York), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Weather averages land near 52°F in New York and 61°F in Boise.
Boise is ahead on safety (70/100 vs 44/100); New York is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,821/month rent plus $80,483 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
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