City comparison
No. Boise's crime index is 73 versus 265 in Portland, and its violent crime index is 85 versus 207, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Boise is cheaper. Median rent is $1,446 a month versus $1,655 in Portland.
Safety is where Portland and Boise split most clearly. Boise scores 192 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,655 in Portland and $1,446 in Boise.
Boise is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Portland 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 Portland has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Portland and Boise are 345 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,655 a month in Portland to $1,446 a month in Boise, down $209 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $90,919 in Portland to $83,904 in Boise, down $7,015 (8%).
The crime index goes from 265 in Portland to 73 in Boise, down 192 points (72%).
The move
Boise and Portland are 345 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,446 a month in Boise to $1,655 a month in Portland, up $209 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $83,904 in Boise to $90,919 in Portland, up $7,015 (8%).
The crime index goes from 73 in Boise to 265 in Portland, up 192 points (263%).
Portland, OR
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 Portland and Boise? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
13% cheaper
Boise rent is 13% cheaper than Portland
Portland
$1,655/mo
Boise
Winner$1,446/mo
Typical rent runs $1,446 a month in Boise versus $1,655 in Portland, so Boise 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 $2,508, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Boise still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Portland.
Planning to buy in Boise? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
8% higher
Portland's median income is 8% higher than Boise
Portland
Winner$90,919
Boise
$83,904
Median household income is $90,919 in Portland versus $83,904 in Boise, so typical pay runs 8% higher in Portland (about $7,015 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
72% lower crime
Boise's crime index is 72% lower than Portland
Portland
265 (100 = avg)
Boise
Winner73 (100 = avg)
Boise's crime index is 73 versus 265 in Portland (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. Portland can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
3% more comfortable
Boise weather is 3% more comfortable than Portland
Portland
60°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 86/100
Boise
Winner61°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 89/100
Portland averages about 60°F (68°F highs); Boise averages about 61°F (70°F highs). Portland averages around 60°F. Boise averages around 61°F. Boise scores 3% 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 Portland 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 and professional growth
Portland is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 8% higher here ($90,919). Start with Portland if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Boise is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 13% 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.
Pick Boise if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (61°F) beat Portland on this page's weather index by 3%. Portland may pay more or cost less, but Boise is the city where the forecast fights you less.
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 Portland (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 30/100 in Portland. Rent is $1,446/month in Boise and $1,655/month in Portland, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Portland still pays more locally ($90,919 median income vs $83,904), which can offset the lease if your field pays Portland rates.
Median income is $90,919 in Portland versus $83,904 in Boise.
Between Portland and Boise, Boise is ahead on safety — 70/100 safety versus 30/100. Lean Portland instead when you already know the Portland block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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