City comparison
No. Boise's crime index is 73 versus 136 in Newark, and its violent crime index is 85 versus 159, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Newark is cheaper. Median rent is $1,392 a month versus $1,446 in Boise.
The income gap between Newark and Boise is significant: $52,060 median household versus $83,904. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,392 in Newark 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. Newark 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 Newark has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Newark and Boise are 2,138 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,392 a month in Newark to $1,446 a month in Boise, up $54 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $52,060 in Newark to $83,904 in Boise, up $31,844 (61%).
The crime index goes from 136 in Newark to 73 in Boise, down 63 points (46%).
The move
Boise and Newark are 2,138 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,446 a month in Boise to $1,392 a month in Newark, down $54 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $83,904 in Boise to $52,060 in Newark, down $31,844 (38%).
The crime index goes from 73 in Boise to 136 in Newark, up 63 points (86%).
Newark, NJ
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 Newark and Boise? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
4% cheaper
Newark rent is 4% cheaper than Boise
Newark
Winner$1,392/mo
Boise
$1,446/mo
Typical rent runs $1,392 a month in Newark versus $1,446 in Boise, so Newark is 4% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $54, or $648 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
61% higher
Boise's median income is 61% higher than Newark
Newark
$52,060
Boise
Winner$83,904
Median household income is $83,904 in Boise versus $52,060 in Newark, so typical pay runs 61% higher in Boise (about $31,844 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. Newark can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
46% lower crime
Boise's crime index is 46% lower than Newark
Newark
136 (100 = avg)
Boise
Winner73 (100 = avg)
Boise's crime index is 73 versus 136 in Newark (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 46% 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. Newark can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
29% more comfortable
Boise weather is 29% more comfortable than Newark
Newark
54°F avg · 60°F highs · comfort 69/100
Boise
Winner61°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 89/100
Newark averages about 54°F (60°F highs); Boise averages about 61°F (70°F highs). Newark averages around 54°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Boise averages around 61°F. Boise scores 29% 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 Newark 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 Newark
Newark is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 4% cheaper here at about $1,392 a month. Choose Newark 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 61% 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 46% lower than Newark (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
This pair is really a paycheck comparison: Boise at $83,904 median income versus $52,060 in Newark. Housing ($1,392 in Newark, $1,446 in Boise) is secondary unless you are rent-burdened already.
Safety still diverges (70/100 in Boise vs 51/100 in Newark), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Weather averages land near 54°F in Newark and 61°F in Boise.
Pick Boise when your field pays toward $83,904 median income. Otherwise, Newark's case rests on a $1,392 lease that leaves more room in the monthly budget.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Newark and Boise, plus other cities in NJ and ID.
