City comparison
No. Boise's crime index is 73 versus 434 in Oakland, and its violent crime index is 85 versus 491, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Boise is cheaper. Median rent is $1,446 a month versus $1,979 in Oakland.
Safety is where Oakland and Boise split most clearly. Boise scores 361 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,979 in Oakland and $1,446 in Boise.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Boise costs less and Oakland 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. 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
Oakland and Boise are 512 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,979 a month in Oakland to $1,446 a month in Boise, down $533 a month (27%).
Median household income goes from $101,600 in Oakland to $83,904 in Boise, down $17,696 (17%).
The crime index goes from 434 in Oakland to 73 in Boise, down 361 points (83%).
The move
Boise and Oakland are 512 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,446 a month in Boise to $1,979 a month in Oakland, up $533 a month (37%).
Median household income goes from $83,904 in Boise to $101,600 in Oakland, up $17,696 (21%).
The crime index goes from 73 in Boise to 434 in Oakland, up 361 points (495%).
Oakland, CA
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 Oakland and Boise? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
27% cheaper
Boise rent is 27% cheaper than Oakland
Oakland
$1,979/mo
Boise
Winner$1,446/mo
Typical rent runs $1,446 a month in Boise versus $1,979 in Oakland, so Boise is 27% cheaper. That's roughly $533/month back in your pocket ($6,396/year). Over five years that's $31,980 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 Oakland, 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
21% higher
Oakland's median income is 21% higher than Boise
Oakland
Winner$101,600
Boise
$83,904
Median household income is $101,600 in Oakland versus $83,904 in Boise, so typical pay runs 21% higher in Oakland (about $17,696 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, Oakland is the stronger labor market on paper. Boise can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
83% lower crime
Boise's crime index is 83% lower than Oakland
Oakland
434 (100 = avg)
Boise
Winner73 (100 = avg)
Boise's crime index is 73 versus 434 in Oakland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 83% 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. Oakland can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
12% more comfortable
Oakland weather is 12% more comfortable than Boise
Oakland
Winner68°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 100/100
Boise
61°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 89/100
Oakland averages about 68°F (80°F highs); Boise averages about 61°F (70°F highs). Oakland sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Boise averages around 61°F. Oakland 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
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 21% higher ($101,600), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 68°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Boise is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 27% 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.
Boise is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 83% lower than Oakland (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 15/100 in Oakland, with typical rent at $1,446 versus $1,979. I would vet the exact ZIP in Oakland before trading 55 safety points for housing savings.
Oakland still pays more locally ($101,600 median income vs $83,904), which can offset the lease if your field pays Oakland rates.
Median income is $101,600 in Oakland versus $83,904 in Boise.
Pick Boise when you want the stronger safety signal (70/100). Otherwise, Oakland's case rests on a Oakland ZIP you trust at $1,979 rent.
Common questions
Ready to move to Boise?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Boise when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Oakland and Boise, plus other cities in CA and ID.
