City comparison
No. Boise's crime index is 73 versus 166 in St Paul, and its violent crime index is 85 versus 160, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Paul is cheaper. Median rent is $1,281 a month versus $1,446 in Boise.
Safety is where St Paul and Boise split most clearly. Boise scores 93 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,281 in St Paul 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 Paul 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 St Paul has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
St Paul and Boise are 1,143 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,281 a month in St Paul to $1,446 a month in Boise, up $165 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $73,394 in St Paul to $83,904 in Boise, up $10,510 (14%).
The crime index goes from 166 in St Paul to 73 in Boise, down 93 points (56%).
The move
Boise and St Paul are 1,143 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,446 a month in Boise to $1,281 a month in St Paul, down $165 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $83,904 in Boise to $73,394 in St Paul, down $10,510 (13%).
The crime index goes from 73 in Boise to 166 in St Paul, up 93 points (127%).
St Paul, MN
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 Paul and Boise? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
11% cheaper
St Paul rent is 11% cheaper than Boise
St Paul
Winner$1,281/mo
Boise
$1,446/mo
Typical rent runs $1,281 a month in St Paul versus $1,446 in Boise, so St Paul is 11% 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 $1,980, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. St Paul 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
14% higher
Boise's median income is 14% higher than St Paul
St Paul
$73,394
Boise
Winner$83,904
Median household income is $83,904 in Boise versus $73,394 in St Paul, so typical pay runs 14% higher in Boise (about $10,510 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 Paul can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
56% lower crime
Boise's crime index is 56% lower than St Paul
St Paul
166 (100 = avg)
Boise
Winner73 (100 = avg)
Boise's crime index is 73 versus 166 in St Paul (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 56% 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 Paul can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
53% more comfortable
Boise weather is 53% more comfortable than St Paul
St Paul
50°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 58/100
Boise
Winner61°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 89/100
St Paul averages about 50°F (57°F highs); Boise averages about 61°F (70°F highs). St Paul averages around 50°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Boise averages around 61°F. Boise scores 53% 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 Paul 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 Paul
St Paul is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 11% cheaper here at about $1,281 a month. Choose St Paul 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 14% 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 56% lower than St Paul (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 45/100 in St Paul). Typical rent is $1,446 in Boise and $1,281 in St Paul; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Safety still diverges (70/100 in Boise vs 45/100 in St Paul), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $83,904 in Boise versus $73,394 in St Paul.
Boise is ahead on safety (70/100 vs 45/100); St Paul is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,281/month rent plus $73,394 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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