Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Anaheim, CA
VS
Boston, MA
🏆 Anaheim leads 12 of 23 categories
Anaheim
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,538
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
347,111
Boston
Massachusetts
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$89,212 ✓ Higher
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.
Anaheim, CA
Pros
5% less violent crime than Boston
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 37°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.4%)
Cons
Violent crime (596.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Pricier housing — median home is $713,600
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Boston
Boston, MA
Pros
More college-educated — 53.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 10.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Homes cost $29k less ($684,900 vs $713,600)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Anaheim
Cons
Violent crime (627.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.4%)
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Anaheim
Violent Crime
5% lower
596.2 vs 627.9 per 100k
Anaheim
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.6% unemployment
Anaheim
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 86.8°F vs 82.1°F
Boston
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 111.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Boston
Median Income
$674
$89,212 vs $88,538/yr
Boston
Median Home Value
$29k less
$684,900 vs $713,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Anaheim, CA | Boston, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $713,600⚠ High | $684,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,958⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,981⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,538 | $89,212 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.4 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.8% | 16.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer | 165⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 102⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (74) | A (122) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.0:1 | 10.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% | 53.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.8% | 88.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Anaheim Elementary | Boston |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.0°F ✓ Warmer | 36.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer | 82.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" ✓ Drier | 43.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 49.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 347,111 | 665,945 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.4 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% ✓ Higher | 34.8% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 15.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 12.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Anaheim's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Boston's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Boston is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Anaheim leads 12 of 23 categories. Anaheim wins 12 and Boston wins 11. 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 Anaheim to Boston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($713,600 vs $684,900 median home), income ($88,538 vs $89,212), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Anaheim, CA and Boston, MA are about 2,575 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.