Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arden-Arcade, CA
VS
Boston, MA
🏆 Arden-Arcade leads 16 of 23 categories
Arden-Arcade
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,479
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
96,076
Boston
Massachusetts
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
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.
Arden-Arcade, CA
Pros
Homes cost $219k less ($466,300 vs $684,900)
Rent averages $596/mo less ($1,385 vs $1,981)
17% less violent crime than Boston
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 37°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Boston
Cons
Median income trails Boston by $24,733/yr
Violent crime (518.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 6.6%)
Boston, MA
Pros
Households earn $24,733 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (6.6%)
More college-educated — 53.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $684,900
Higher rents — median is $1,981/mo
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)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arden-Arcade
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 108.9 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Arden-Arcade
Violent Crime
17% lower
518.1 vs 627.9 per 100k
Arden-Arcade
Median Home Value
$219k less
$466,300 vs $684,900
Arden-Arcade
Summer Heat
12.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.4°F vs 82.1°F
Boston
Median Income
$24,733
$89,212 vs $64,479/yr
Boston
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
6.6% vs 8.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arden-Arcade, CA | Boston, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $466,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $684,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,981⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,479 | $89,212 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 30.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% | 16.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 165⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A (122) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | 10.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.3% | 53.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.9% ✓ Higher | 88.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Juan Unified | Boston |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer | 36.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer | 82.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 21.5" ✓ Drier | 43.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 49.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 96,076 | 665,945 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.9% ✓ Higher | 34.8% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 15.7% |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arden-Arcade's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Boston's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Arden-Arcade is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arden-Arcade leads 16 of 23 categories. Arden-Arcade wins 16 and Boston wins 7. 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 Arden-Arcade to Boston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($466,300 vs $684,900 median home), income ($64,479 vs $89,212), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arden-Arcade, CA and Boston, MA are about 2,621 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.