Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
VS
Boston, MA
🏆 Augusta-Richmond County leads 11 of 20 categories
Augusta-Richmond County
Georgia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,492
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
201,615
Boston
Massachusetts
9
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.
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $543k less ($141,900 vs $684,900)
Rent averages $958/mo less ($1,023 vs $1,981)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Boston
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 37°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Median income trails Boston by $38,720/yr
Higher unemployment (8.3% vs 6.6%)
Boston, MA
Pros
Households earn $38,720 more per year on average
More college-educated — 53.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (6.6%)
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
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Augusta-Richmond County
Key Differences at a Glance
Augusta-Richmond County
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Augusta-Richmond County
Median Home Value
$543k less
$141,900 vs $684,900
Augusta-Richmond County
Summer Heat
12.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 82.1°F
Boston
Median Income
$38,720
$89,212 vs $50,492/yr
Boston
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
6.6% vs 8.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Augusta-Richmond County, GA | Boston, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $141,900 ✓ Lower | $684,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,023 ✓ Lower | $1,981⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,492 | $89,212 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.3%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.2 min ✓ Shorter | 30.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 16.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 138⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 165⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 96 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) | A (122) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 10.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.8% | 53.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% | 88.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richmond County | Boston |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.6°F ✓ Warmer | 36.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 82.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" | 43.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" ✓ Less | 49.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 201,615 | 665,945 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.6 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.0% ✓ Higher | 34.8% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 15.7% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% ✓ More | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Augusta-Richmond County's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Boston's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Augusta-Richmond County is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Augusta-Richmond County leads 11 of 20 categories. Augusta-Richmond County wins 11 and Boston wins 9. 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 Augusta-Richmond County to Boston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($141,900 vs $684,900 median home), income ($50,492 vs $89,212), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Augusta-Richmond County, GA and Boston, MA are about 863 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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