City comparison
No. Boise's crime index is 73 versus 157 in San Jose, and its violent crime index is 85 versus 161, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Boise is cheaper. Median rent is $1,446 a month versus $2,669 in San Jose.
The income gap between San Jose and Boise is significant: $146,427 median household versus $83,904. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $2,669 in San Jose and $1,446 in Boise.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Boise costs less and San Jose 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
San Jose and Boise are 526 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,669 a month in San Jose to $1,446 a month in Boise, down $1,223 a month (46%).
Median household income goes from $146,427 in San Jose to $83,904 in Boise, down $62,523 (43%).
The crime index goes from 157 in San Jose to 73 in Boise, down 84 points (54%).
The move
Boise and San Jose are 526 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,446 a month in Boise to $2,669 a month in San Jose, up $1,223 a month (85%).
Median household income goes from $83,904 in Boise to $146,427 in San Jose, up $62,523 (75%).
The crime index goes from 73 in Boise to 157 in San Jose, up 84 points (115%).
San Jose, 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 San Jose and Boise? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
46% cheaper
Boise rent is 46% cheaper than San Jose
San Jose
$2,669/mo
Boise
Winner$1,446/mo
Typical rent runs $1,446 a month in Boise versus $2,669 in San Jose, so Boise is 46% cheaper. That's roughly $1,223/month back in your pocket ($14,676/year). Over five years that's $73,380 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 San Jose, 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
75% higher
San Jose's median income is 75% higher than Boise
San Jose
Winner$146,427
Boise
$83,904
Median household income is $146,427 in San Jose versus $83,904 in Boise, so typical pay runs 75% higher in San Jose (about $62,523 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, San Jose 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
54% lower crime
Boise's crime index is 54% lower than San Jose
San Jose
157 (100 = avg)
Boise
Winner73 (100 = avg)
Boise's crime index is 73 versus 157 in San Jose (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. San Jose can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
12% more comfortable
San Jose weather is 12% more comfortable than Boise
San Jose
Winner69°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 100/100
Boise
61°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 89/100
San Jose averages about 69°F (80°F highs); Boise averages about 61°F (70°F highs). San Jose sits near 69°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Boise averages around 61°F. San Jose 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 75% higher ($146,427), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 69°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 46% 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 54% lower than San Jose (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
Housing separates these metros first: $1,446/month in Boise versus $2,669 in San Jose. Median income reads $83,904 in Boise and $146,427 in San Jose, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Boise rent at $1,446/month is still below San Jose's $2,669, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $146,427 in San Jose versus $83,904 in Boise.
Pick Boise when shaving $1,223 off rent at $1,446/month is the priority. Otherwise, San Jose's case rests on $2,669/month rent with $146,427 local income.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for San Jose and Boise, plus other cities in CA and ID.
