City comparison
Yes. Virginia Beach's crime index is 62 versus 73 in Boise, and its violent crime index is 29 versus 85, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Boise is cheaper. Median rent is $1,446 a month versus $1,714 in Virginia Beach.
Virginia Beach and Boise are closer on paper than many city pairs, so the move comes down to how you weight cost, safety, and climate. Typical rent sits near $1,714 in Virginia Beach and $1,446 in Boise, and median household income lands at $92,968 versus $83,904. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
Virginia Beach is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Boise makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Virginia Beach is the stronger move.
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
Virginia Beach and Boise are 2,151 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach to $1,446 a month in Boise, down $268 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $92,968 in Virginia Beach to $83,904 in Boise, down $9,064 (10%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Virginia Beach to 73 in Boise, up 11 points (18%).
The move
Boise and Virginia Beach are 2,151 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,446 a month in Boise to $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach, up $268 a month (19%).
Median household income goes from $83,904 in Boise to $92,968 in Virginia Beach, up $9,064 (11%).
The crime index goes from 73 in Boise to 62 in Virginia Beach, down 11 points (15%).
Virginia Beach, VA
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 Virginia Beach and Boise? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
16% cheaper
Boise rent is 16% cheaper than Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach
$1,714/mo
Boise
Winner$1,446/mo
Typical rent runs $1,446 a month in Boise versus $1,714 in Virginia Beach, so Boise is 16% 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 $3,216, 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 Virginia Beach.
Planning to buy in Virginia Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
11% higher
Virginia Beach's median income is 11% higher than Boise
Virginia Beach
Winner$92,968
Boise
$83,904
Median household income is $92,968 in Virginia Beach versus $83,904 in Boise, so typical pay runs 11% higher in Virginia Beach (about $9,064 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, Virginia Beach 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
15% lower crime
Virginia Beach's crime index is 15% lower than Boise
Virginia Beach
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Boise
73 (100 = avg)
Virginia Beach's crime index is 62 versus 73 in Boise (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 15% lower in Virginia Beach. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Virginia Beach, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Boise. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
6% more comfortable
Virginia Beach weather is 6% more comfortable than Boise
Virginia Beach
Winner63°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 94/100
Boise
61°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 89/100
Virginia Beach averages about 63°F (67°F highs); Boise averages about 61°F (70°F highs). Virginia Beach averages around 63°F. Boise averages around 61°F. Virginia Beach scores 6% 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 11% higher ($92,968), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 63°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Virginia Beach is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 15% lower than Boise (62 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.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Boise
Boise is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 16% 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.
Bottom line
Housing separates these metros first: $1,446/month in Boise versus $1,714 in Virginia Beach. Median income reads $83,904 in Boise and $92,968 in Virginia Beach, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Boise rent at $1,446/month is still below Virginia Beach's $1,714, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $92,968 in Virginia Beach versus $83,904 in Boise.
If housing cost drives your move, Boise is the stronger match ($1,446/month rent against $1,714). If an employer or family tie already points to Virginia Beach, treat $1,714/month rent and $92,968 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Virginia Beach and Boise, plus other cities in VA and ID.
