City comparison
No. Boise's crime index is 73 versus 261 in Philadelphia, and its violent crime index is 85 versus 252, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Philadelphia is cheaper. Median rent is $1,397 a month versus $1,446 in Boise.
Safety is where Philadelphia and Boise split most clearly. Boise scores 188 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,397 in Philadelphia 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. Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Philadelphia and Boise are 2,108 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,397 a month in Philadelphia to $1,446 a month in Boise, up $49 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $61,953 in Philadelphia to $83,904 in Boise, up $21,951 (35%).
The crime index goes from 261 in Philadelphia to 73 in Boise, down 188 points (72%).
The move
Boise and Philadelphia are 2,108 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,446 a month in Boise to $1,397 a month in Philadelphia, down $49 a month (3%).
Median household income goes from $83,904 in Boise to $61,953 in Philadelphia, down $21,951 (26%).
The crime index goes from 73 in Boise to 261 in Philadelphia, up 188 points (258%).
Philadelphia, PA
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 Philadelphia and Boise? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
3% cheaper
Philadelphia rent is 3% cheaper than Boise
Philadelphia
Winner$1,397/mo
Boise
$1,446/mo
Typical rent runs $1,397 a month in Philadelphia versus $1,446 in Boise, so Philadelphia is 3% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $49, or $588 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
35% higher
Boise's median income is 35% higher than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
$61,953
Boise
Winner$83,904
Median household income is $83,904 in Boise versus $61,953 in Philadelphia, so typical pay runs 35% higher in Boise (about $21,951 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. Philadelphia can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
72% lower crime
Boise's crime index is 72% lower than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
261 (100 = avg)
Boise
Winner73 (100 = avg)
Boise's crime index is 73 versus 261 in Philadelphia (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 72% 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. Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia
Philadelphia
54°F avg · 61°F highs · comfort 69/100
Boise
Winner61°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 89/100
Philadelphia averages about 54°F (61°F highs); Boise averages about 61°F (70°F highs). Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia
Philadelphia is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 3% cheaper here at about $1,397 a month. Choose Philadelphia 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 35% 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 72% lower than Philadelphia (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 31/100 in Philadelphia, with typical rent at $1,446 versus $1,397. I would vet the exact ZIP in Philadelphia before trading 39 safety points for housing savings.
Philadelphia rent at $1,397/month is still below Boise's $1,446, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 54°F in Philadelphia and 61°F in Boise.
If safety drives your move, Boise is the stronger match (70/100 safety versus 31/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Philadelphia, treat $1,397/month rent and $61,953 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
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