Boise City vs Arlington: Cost of Living (2026)

A side-by-side comparison of Boise City, ID and Arlington, VA, using US Census Bureau data.

MetricBoise City, IDArlington, VA
Population234,192235,845
Median household income$76,402$137,387
Median home value$401,800$833,300
Median rent (/mo)$1,223$2,227

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.

Comparing Boise City, ID and Arlington, VA comes down to what you value most. Boise City has the lower median home value, and Boise City has the lower median rent.

Arlington has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.

Frequently asked questions

Is it cheaper to live in Boise City or Arlington?
By median home value, Boise City is the cheaper of the two ($401,800 vs $833,300). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
Which has higher salaries, Boise City or Arlington?
Median household income is $76,402 in Boise City versus $137,387 in Arlington, per the US Census Bureau.

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