Boise, ID vs Portland, OR
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Jun 2026
Report card
| Category | BoiseBoise, ID | PortlandPortland, OR | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Average | Average | Same |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | Safe | High Risk | |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Good | Good | |
| Sovereignty | Moderate | Self-Reliant | |
| Strategic | Defensible | High Risk |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
668 mi is the distance from Boise, ID to its nearest large city, while Portland, OR sits just 2 mi from one, placing Boise in the 80th percentile and Portland in the 2nd for this metric. 2023 Census figures show Portland’s cost of living index at 161, 19% higher than Boise’s 135, with a median home value of $557,600 versus $456,000 and median rent of $1,596 compared to $1,359. Job growth over the past year diverges sharply: Boise saw a +2.1% increase, in the 78th percentile, while Portland experienced a -1.6% decline, in the 4th percentile. Portland’s unemployment rate of 4.2% is 1.0 percentage points higher than Boise’s 3.2%, placing Portland in the 74th percentile and Boise in the 29th.
Portland’s property crime rate of 5,087 per 100,000 people is 6.1 times higher than Boise’s 834, with Portland in the 99th percentile and Boise in the 25th. Violent crime also differs, with Portland at 695 per 100,000 (2.5 times higher) versus Boise’s 279. The average commute in Portland is 24.6 minutes, 6 minutes longer than Boise’s 19.1 minutes, putting Portland in the 58th percentile and Boise in the 20th. Air quality index values show Boise at 44 (59th percentile) and Portland at 35 (15th percentile), a 26% higher reading for Boise. Portland’s distance to the coastline is 63 mi, while Boise’s is 396 mi, 6.3 times farther.
AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them. Generated Oct 2026.
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Where they differ most
Cost of living
| Metric | Boise, ID | Portland, OR | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 13570th pctl | 16182nd pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Boise, ID 135; Portland, OR 161; Portland is 19% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $456,00078th pctl | $557,60085th pctl | Median home value: Boise, ID $456,000; Portland, OR $557,600; Portland is 22% higher. |
| Median rent | $1,35961st pctl | $1,59674th pctl | Median rent: Boise, ID $1,359; Portland, OR $1,596; Portland is 17% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $81,30861st pctl | $88,79269th pctl | Median household income: Boise, ID $81,308; Portland, OR $88,792; Portland is 9% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $88,59380th pctl | $108,33288th pctl | Comfortable income (single): Boise, ID $88,593; Portland, OR $108,332; Portland is 22% higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $130,23180th pctl | $159,24888th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Boise, ID $130,231; Portland, OR $159,248; Portland is 22% higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Stretched | Stretched | About the same |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Portland needs about
$89,400
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 135 vs 161). Leaves out taxes, groceries and transport. How it works →
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
Jobs & income
| Metric | Boise, ID | Portland, OR | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 3.2%29th pctl | 4.2%74th pctl | Unemployment: Boise, ID 3.2%; Portland, OR 4.2%; Portland is 1.0 points higher. |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | +2.1%78th pctl | -1.6%4th pctl | Job growth (YoY): Boise, ID +2.1%; Portland, OR -1.6%; Boise is 3.7 points higher. |
| Per-capita income | $48,27475th pctl | $55,31283rd pctl | Per-capita income: Boise, ID $48,274; Portland, OR $55,312; Portland is 15% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 10.6%45th pctl | 12.8%56th pctl | Poverty rate: Boise, ID 10.6%; Portland, OR 12.8%; Portland is 2.2 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 19.1 min20th pctl | 24.6 min58th pctl | Average commute: Boise, ID 19.1 min; Portland, OR 24.6 min; Portland is 6 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 15.8%72nd pctl | 25.3%91st pctl | Work from home: Boise, ID 15.8%; Portland, OR 25.3%; Portland is 9.5 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Stable | Stable | About the same |
| Job market | Strong | Stable | Job market: Boise, ID A+; Portland, OR C+; Boise is graded higher. |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Boise, ID | Portland, OR | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 27959th pctl | 69593rd pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Boise, ID 279; Portland, OR 695; Portland is 2.5 times higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 83425th pctl | 5,08799th pctl | Property crime per 100k: Boise, ID 834; Portland, OR 5,087; Portland is 6.1 times higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Falling | Falling | |
| Crime & safety | Safe | Dangerous | Crime & safety: Boise, ID B+; Portland, OR F; Boise is graded higher. |
| Traffic safety | Very SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Boise, ID | Portland, OR | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| ClimateClimate comfort | Dry | Dry | About the same |
| HealthcareHealthcare access | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| Tap water | Fair | Clean | Tap water: Boise, ID C+; Portland, OR A; Portland is graded higher. |
| Power grid | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomesteadingHomesteading potential | Workable | Prime | Homesteading potential: Boise, ID B; Portland, OR A+; Portland is graded higher. |
| Disaster riskNational disaster risk | High-Risk | High-Risk | About the same |
3 rows not shown: broadband, walkability and local food access aren't available for either place.
Data: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
Taxes & laws
| Metric | Boise, ID | Portland, OR | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxes | ModerateState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ModerateState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomeschoolHomeschool rules | noneState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | moderateState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| FirearmsFirearm laws grade | A-State figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | B-State figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| Property rightsProperty rights (eminent domain) | D+State figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | B+State figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| EnergyEnergy production | ImporterState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ImporterState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. |
Data: Tax Foundation, state statutes.
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | Boise, ID | Portland, OR | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 668 mi80th pctl | 2 mi2nd pctl | Nearest large city: Boise, ID 668 mi; Portland, OR 2 mi; Boise is 666 mi higher. |
| Target proximity | Poor | Poor | Target proximity: Boise, ID F; Portland, OR D; Portland is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 373 mi56th pctl | 239 mi29th pctl | Distance to international border: Boise, ID 373 mi; Portland, OR 239 mi; Boise is 56% higher. |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 396 mi62nd pctl | 63 mi24th pctl | Distance to coastline: Boise, ID 396 mi; Portland, OR 63 mi; Boise is 6.3 times higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | Defensible | High Risk | Strategic location: Boise, ID B-; Portland, OR F; Boise is graded higher. |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Boise, ID | Portland, OR | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 235,70196th pctl | 642,71599th pctl | Population: Boise, ID 235,701; Portland, OR 642,715; Portland is 2.7 times larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 2,73874th pctl | 4,81591st pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Boise, ID 2,738; Portland, OR 4,815; Portland is 76% higher. |
| Median age | 38.252nd pctl | 38.655th pctl | About the same |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 46.6%75th pctl | 53.5%83rd pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Boise, ID 46.6%; Portland, OR 53.5%; Portland is 6.9 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.331st pctl | 2.217th pctl | Average household size: Boise, ID 2.3; Portland, OR 2.2; Boise is 6% larger. |
More about Boise's residents · Portland's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
Moving between Boise and Portland
- Median rent: $1,359 in Boise, $1,596 in Portland
- Median home value: $456,000 in Boise, $557,600 in Portland
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 135 in Boise, 161 in Portland
- Median household income: $81,308 in Boise, $88,792 in Portland
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $130,231 in Boise, $159,248 in Portland
- Unemployment: 3.2% in Boise, 4.2% in Portland
- Average commute: 19.1 min in Boise, 24.6 min in Portland
- Violent crime per 100k: 279 in Boise, 695 in Portland
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More places like Boise and Portland
- Data: Cost of living: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
- Data: Jobs & income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
- Data: Safety: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
- Data: Quality of life: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
- Data: Taxes & laws: Tax Foundation, state statutes.
- Data: Strategic location: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
- Data: People: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area.
Narrative content on this page is AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them.
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