Boise City or Columbia: which is better?
US metro area: head-to-head comparison
Columbia wins on more indicators: 8 of 11 against 3.
- Money: Columbia 1:3
- Climate and risks: Columbia 2:5
All indicators weigh the same. This is a score based on data, not advice on where to live: different people have different circumstances.
Boise City
Indicator
Columbia
Money
Better: Columbia (1 : 3)Per capita income
higher is better
✓$67,248
20249% higher
✗$61,458
20249% lower
Typical rent
lower is better
✗$1,924
2026-09-3024% higher
✓$1,557
2026-09-3019% lower
Typical home value
lower is better
✗$491,851
2026-09-3094% higher
✓$252,979
2026-09-3049% lower
Price level
lower is better
✗98.4 100 = US average
20245% higher
✓93.7 100 = US average
20245% lower
Climate and risks
Better: Columbia (2 : 5)Air: median AQI
lower is better
✗54 AQI
202415% higher
✓47 AQI
202413% lower
Days with unhealthy air
lower is better
✗68 days per year
20246700% higher
✓1 days per year
202499% lower
Hot days (max ≥ +30 °C)
lower is better
✓81 days per year
2016-202544% lower
✗147 days per year
2016-202580% higher
Frost days (min ≤ −10 °C)
lower is better
✗7 days per year
2016-20256400% higher
✓0 days per year
2016-202598% lower
Severe frost (min ≤ −20 °C)
lower is better
✗0.2 days per year
2016-2025
✓0.0 days per year
2016-2025
Ice days (max ≤ 0 °C)
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
13 days per year
2016-2025
0 days per year
2016-2025
Heating degree days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
2,776 °C·days per year
2016-2025
960 °C·days per year
2016-2025
Cooling degree days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
712 °C·days per year
2016-2025
1,593 °C·days per year
2016-2025
Rainy days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
62 days per year
2016-2025
94 days per year
2016-2025
Snowfall days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
8 days per year
2016-2025
0 days per year
2016-2025
Annual precipitation
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
330 mm per year
2016-2025
1,247 mm per year
2016-2025
Daylight on December 21
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
9.0 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
9.9 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
Daylight on June 21
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
15.4 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
14.4 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
Air humidity
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
52 %
2021-2025
69 %
2021-2025
Muggy days (dew point ≥ +20 °C)
lower is better
✓0 days per year
2021-2025100% lower
✗88 days per year
2021-202543850% higher
Distance to the sea
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
631 km
2006-2025
166 km
2006-2025
Earthquakes M4.5+ within 100 km
lower is better
✗0.05 per year
2006-2025
✓0.00 per year
2006-2025
Strongest earthquake in the period
no data for one of the places
4.9 magnitude
2006-2025
no data
Urban environment
no winnerPopulation
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
845,877 people
2024
870,193 people
2024
A winner is named only for indicators with a known “better / worse” direction. Population and other neutral indicators are shown without a winner. Outdated and missing values are not counted. Details for each place: Boise City, Columbia.