Boise, Idaho has a reputation as a safe and family-friendly city. But is it really as safe as people say? In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the crime rates in Boise, the safety measures in place, and residents’ perceptions of safety in the city.
According to several online publications including MSN and Livability, Boise is one of the safest cities in America. The city’s violent and property crime rates are nearly two times lower than the national average. Activities like going out at night and walking around are considered safe.
Having lived in Boise for nearly 3 decades, I’ve got a good feel for how safe Boise really is. Let’s get into all the juicy details.
Crime Rate in Boise
Neighborhoodscout reports there are roughly 2.87 violent crimes per 1,000 residents, while there are 16.09 property crimes per 1,000 residents. Although these estimates are slightly higher than Idaho’s average, Boise’s crime rate remains lower than the national average, even when compared to other cities of similar size.
Here are Boise’s crime rates compared to other major cities.
| City | Violent Crime (per 1,000 residents) | Property Crime (per 1,000 residents) |
|---|---|---|
| Boise, ID | 2.87 | 16.09 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | 9.36 | 74.70 |
| Seattle, WA | 6.60 | 52.50 |
| Portland, OR | 5.33 | 49.25 |
| Sacramento, CA | 6.79 | 29.36 |
| Denver, CO | 8.86 | 48.19 |
| Minneapolis, MN | 11.88 | 47.29 |
| Chicago, IL | 9.69 | 25.49 |
| Austin, TX | 4.88 | 38.04 |
As you can see, Boise’s crime rate remains relatively low compared to other cities in the U.S.
Safety Measures In Place for Boise
In terms of safety measures, Boise has a stacked team of law enforcement and other individuals who help protect and serve the city. Below is a list of safety measures Boise has in place.
- Boise Police Department (BPD). The entire department comprises nearly 400 individuals and continues to grow along with the population.
- Ada Metro S.W.A.T. The county has its own swat team made up of various members from local Public Safety Agencies.
- Marine Patrol. Consists of a sergeant along with several deputies and volunteers to provide rescue, law enforcement, and educational services for people on the water.
- The Idaho National Guard. Located in Boise, Idaho’s National Guard is ready to protect and serve not only the city but the entire nation.
- K9 Program. Boise utilizes multiple deputies and dogs for drug detection and apprehension.
- Crisis Intervention Team (CIT). A team of sworn deputies that respond to calls to those who suffer from mental illness to assist them. CIT is assisted by licensed clinical social workers as well.
- Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT). Deputies make up the local CNT to assist the S.W.A.T. team. They respond to calls involving hostage situations, barricades, and suicide.
- ACTION (Anti-Crime Team In Our Neighborhoods). Made up of four deputies, ACTION’s main responsibilities are to develop strong community relations, problem-solve issues and identify available resources, and address crime at all levels.
In addition to robust law enforcement, Boise has community-driven safety measures in place to assist the local agencies.
- Neighborhood Watch. Designated Watch Members are responsible for keeping an eye on their assigned neighborhood and paying close attention to things like suspicious activity, license plate numbers, and descriptions, as well as reporting any information to the police department.
- Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). These members are volunteers from the community who are trained in basic disaster response skills including fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations to assist their own family and neighbors in case of an emergency.
Even more so, Boiseans love utilizing social media to report criminal activity around the city. There are numerous Facebook groups, Reddit forums, and Ring security devices that are all used to keep everyone connected and safe.
Local Perception of Boise Safety
I was born and raised in Boise, Idaho. As a teenager, I’d walk and ride my bike all around the city. Basically from sunrise to sunset. Never once did I have any major issues besides a flat tire. In fact, I usually was the issue as I used to be a bit of a rebel (now I’m an old man with respect for others).
The local perception of Boise’s safety is good. Most residents believe the city is safe as there are no major issues such as gang violence, mass shootings, or hate crimes. Although it exists, it’s not as prevalent as in other cities. Ask any local and they’ll likely tell you Boise is safe.
Things like walking down the street, day and night, still feel relatively safe to me and others, considering many residents do it.
It’s pretty common to go on walks, jogs, and bike rides anywhere in the city without feeling threatened. Even the Boise River Greenbelt—a 25-mile-long walking/bike path that goes through the city—is safe to use.
There are police offers on their bikes that patrol the path and local parks, making everyone feel as safe as possible.
That said, if you go looking for trouble, you can find it. But that could be said for anywhere. I’ve been to other cities including Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle, and Minneapolis to name a few, and Boise feels ten times safer than all of them.
Of course, I might be a little biased since I’m a local.
Does Boise Have a Homeless Problem?
Compared to other cities, Boise does not have a homeless problem. As of 2022, there are an estimated 1,500 homeless men, women, and children in and around Boise which equates to approximately 17.5 homeless people per every 10,000 residents.
There are currently more than 10 services dedicated to helping the homeless in Boise, including several shelters, food banks, and programs designed to assist those in need.
So, are there homeless people in Boise? Unfortunately, yes. But fortunately, the city and community are doing everything they can to help those in need and get them off of the street.
If you’re worried about the homeless rate affecting the safety of Boise, perhaps this comparison between other cities will help ease your mind.
| City | Homeless population (estimated) |
| Boise, ID | 1,500 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | 2,500 |
| Seattle, WA | 12,000 |
| Portland, OR | 6,600 |
| Sacramento, CA | 9,200 |
| Denver, CO | 7,000 |
| Minneapolis, MN | 7,900 |
| Chicago, IL | 4,400 |
| Austin, TX | 4,000 |
| New York City, NY | 65,000 |
While the overall population between these cities varies, it’s clear to see that Boise has less of a homeless problem than most other major cities across the country.
From a safety perspective, this is good news. But from a human perspective, it’s very saddening to see no matter how big or small the number is.
Is Boise Safe for Families?
Boise is a safe place to raise a family. Kids can walk to and from school without any issues, you can walk around at night safely, and many families still leave their doors unlocked especially in the nicer neighborhoods.
Growing up in Boise, my family and I never experienced any issues. Even to this day, there’s nothing notable that I can distinctly point out and say: “that was a threat to my family”.
Sure, I may have accidentally lit our house on fire when my parents weren’t home, but thankfully there happened to be firemen across the street practicing in a field so they came over in a matter of seconds (yes, this really happened).
That said, assuming your child is old enough to handle themselves, leaving your kid home alone in the city isn’t unordinary and is considered safe.
Another factor to consider is the number of families with multiple firearms in their homes. Although most firearms are used recreationally for hunting and nearby shooting ranges, homeowners are prepared to defend their property if something does happen.
This has remained a natural deterrent for criminals as Idahoans are known to carry—and they know how to aim.
What Is the Safest Part of Boise?
The safest parts of Boise include Barber, Blacks Creek, and Warm Springs as these areas have the least amount of crime. The closer you get to the center of the city, the higher the crime rate is as the population density increases.
As you can see from the map above, the light purple areas have the least amount of crime while the dark purple signifies areas with the heaviest crime levels. And even the areas with dark purple are still considered safe by the locals.
Ultimately, no matter where you decide to call home in Boise, you’ll find that it’s a safe and welcoming community with little to worry about and a whole lot to be grateful for. There are a ton of neighborhoods that I’d be happy to call home myself—you just need to figure out which one is best for you.
Sometimes reading about living somewhere doesn’t actually justify what it’s really like. That’s why I created other resources like “What It’s Like to Live in Boise?“, and “Is Boise a Big City?“.
Both of these are important questions to consider before making the move, plus they’re written by a local (that’s me) who knows best.