City comparison
No. Boise's crime index is 73 versus 352 in St Louis, and its violent crime index is 85 versus 376, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Louis is cheaper. Median rent is $997 a month versus $1,446 in Boise.
Safety is where St Louis and Boise split most clearly. Boise scores 279 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $997 in St Louis 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. St Louis 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 rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. St Louis at $997 average has pockets that run $797 and others at $1,397: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
St Louis and Boise are 1,390 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $997 a month in St Louis to $1,446 a month in Boise, up $449 a month (45%).
Median household income goes from $56,160 in St Louis to $83,904 in Boise, up $27,744 (49%).
The crime index goes from 352 in St Louis to 73 in Boise, down 279 points (79%).
The move
Boise and St Louis are 1,390 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,446 a month in Boise to $997 a month in St Louis, down $449 a month (31%).
Median household income goes from $83,904 in Boise to $56,160 in St Louis, down $27,744 (33%).
The crime index goes from 73 in Boise to 352 in St Louis, up 279 points (382%).
St Louis, MO
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 St Louis and Boise? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
31% cheaper
St Louis rent is 31% cheaper than Boise
St Louis
Winner$997/mo
Boise
$1,446/mo
Typical rent runs $997 a month in St Louis versus $1,446 in Boise, so St Louis is 31% cheaper. That's roughly $449/month back in your pocket ($5,388/year). Over five years that's $26,940 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 Boise, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, St Louis 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
49% higher
Boise's median income is 49% higher than St Louis
St Louis
$56,160
Boise
Winner$83,904
Median household income is $83,904 in Boise versus $56,160 in St Louis, so typical pay runs 49% higher in Boise (about $27,744 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. St Louis can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
79% lower crime
Boise's crime index is 79% lower than St Louis
St Louis
352 (100 = avg)
Boise
Winner73 (100 = avg)
Boise's crime index is 73 versus 352 in St Louis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 79% 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. St Louis can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
11% more comfortable
Boise weather is 11% more comfortable than St Louis
St Louis
58°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 80/100
Boise
Winner61°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 89/100
St Louis averages about 58°F (67°F highs); Boise averages about 61°F (70°F highs). St Louis averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Boise averages around 61°F. Boise scores 11% 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 St Louis 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 St Louis
St Louis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 31% cheaper here at about $997 a month. Choose St Louis 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 49% 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 79% lower than St Louis (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 22/100 in St Louis, with typical rent at $1,446 versus $997. I would vet the exact ZIP in St Louis before trading 48 safety points for housing savings.
St Louis rent at $997/month is still below Boise's $1,446, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $997 in St Louis and $1,446 in Boise.
Boise clears the bar on safety in this dataset. St Louis deserves a serious look only when you already know the St Louis block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for St Louis and Boise, plus other cities in MO and ID.
