City comparison
No. Boise's crime index is 73 versus 158 in Pittsburgh, and its violent crime index is 85 versus 147, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Pittsburgh is cheaper. Median rent is $1,261 a month versus $1,446 in Boise.
Safety is where Pittsburgh and Boise split most clearly. Boise scores 85 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,261 in Pittsburgh 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. Pittsburgh 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 Pittsburgh has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Pittsburgh and Boise are 1,856 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh to $1,446 a month in Boise, up $185 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $65,742 in Pittsburgh to $83,904 in Boise, up $18,162 (28%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Pittsburgh to 73 in Boise, down 85 points (54%).
The move
Boise and Pittsburgh are 1,856 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,446 a month in Boise to $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh, down $185 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $83,904 in Boise to $65,742 in Pittsburgh, down $18,162 (22%).
The crime index goes from 73 in Boise to 158 in Pittsburgh, up 85 points (116%).
Pittsburgh, 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 Pittsburgh and Boise? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
13% cheaper
Pittsburgh rent is 13% cheaper than Boise
Pittsburgh
Winner$1,261/mo
Boise
$1,446/mo
Typical rent runs $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh versus $1,446 in Boise, so Pittsburgh 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 $2,220, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Pittsburgh 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 Boise? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
28% higher
Boise's median income is 28% higher than Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh
$65,742
Boise
Winner$83,904
Median household income is $83,904 in Boise versus $65,742 in Pittsburgh, so typical pay runs 28% higher in Boise (about $18,162 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. Pittsburgh can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
54% lower crime
Boise's crime index is 54% lower than Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh
158 (100 = avg)
Boise
Winner73 (100 = avg)
Boise's crime index is 73 versus 158 in Pittsburgh (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 54% 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. Pittsburgh can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
13% more comfortable
Boise weather is 13% more comfortable than Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh
51°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 61/100
Boise
Winner54°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 69/100
Pittsburgh averages about 51°F (58°F highs); Boise averages about 54°F (62°F highs). Pittsburgh averages around 51°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Boise averages around 54°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Boise scores 13% 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 Pittsburgh 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 Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 13% cheaper here at about $1,261 a month. Choose Pittsburgh 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 28% higher ($83,904), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 54°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 54% lower than Pittsburgh (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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Boise leads on safety (70/100 vs 46/100 in Pittsburgh). Typical rent is $1,446 in Boise and $1,261 in Pittsburgh; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Pittsburgh rent at $1,261/month is still below Boise's $1,446, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,261 in Pittsburgh and $1,446 in Boise.
Boise is ahead on safety (70/100 vs 46/100); Pittsburgh is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,261/month rent plus $65,742 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
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