Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allen, TX
VS
Boston, MA
🏆 Allen leads 20 of 23 categories
Allen
Texas
20
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$121,259 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
28 ✓ Safer
Population
105,444
Boston
Massachusetts
3
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,212
Violent Crime Index
165⚠ High
Population
665,945 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $295k less ($390,200 vs $684,900)
83% less violent crime than Boston
Households earn $32,047 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (4.3%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (106.4 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $234/mo less ($1,747 vs $1,981)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Boston, MA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $684,900
Median income trails Allen by $32,047/yr
Violent crime (627.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,981/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Allen
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Allen
Median Income
$32,047
$121,259 vs $89,212/yr
Allen
Violent Crime
83% lower
106.4 vs 627.9 per 100k
Allen
Median Home Value
$295k less
$390,200 vs $684,900
Allen
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
4.3% vs 6.6% unemployment
Allen
Summer Heat
12.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allen, TX | Boston, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $390,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $684,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,747⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,981⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,259 ✓ Higher | $89,212 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min ✓ Shorter | 30.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 21.4% ✓ Higher | 16.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 28 ✓ Safer | 165⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (125) ✓ Better | A (122) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | 10.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.2% ✓ Higher | 53.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.8% ✓ Higher | 88.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALLEN ISD | Boston |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.5°F ✓ Warmer | 36.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer | 82.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" ✓ Drier | 43.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" ✓ Less | 49.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,444 | 665,945 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.8 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.9% ✓ Higher | 34.8% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 15.7% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 12.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allen's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Boston's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Allen is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Allen leads 20 of 23 categories. Allen wins 20 and Boston wins 3. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Allen to Boston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($390,200 vs $684,900 median home), income ($121,259 vs $89,212), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allen, TX and Boston, MA are about 1,532 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.