Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Beaverton, OR
VS
Boston, MA
🏆 Beaverton leads 17 of 23 categories
Beaverton
Oregon
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$88,899
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
97,554
Boston
Massachusetts
6
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.
Beaverton, OR
Pros
42% less violent crime than Boston
Homes cost $190k less ($494,700 vs $684,900)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (3.9%)
Rent averages $318/mo less ($1,663 vs $1,981)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 37°F
Cons
Property crime (2661.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Boston, MA
Pros
More college-educated — 53.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 10.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $684,900
Violent crime (627.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,981/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Key Differences at a Glance
Beaverton
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Beaverton
Violent Crime
42% lower
364.8 vs 627.9 per 100k
Beaverton
Median Home Value
$190k less
$494,700 vs $684,900
Beaverton
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
3.9% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Beaverton, OR | Boston, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $494,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $684,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,663⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,981⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,899 | $89,212 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.3 min ✓ Shorter | 30.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 16.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 165⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) | A (122) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.3:1 | 10.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.3% | 53.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.5% ✓ Higher | 88.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Beaverton SD 48J | Boston |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.7°F ✓ Warmer | 36.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.3°F ✓ Warmer | 82.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.0" ✓ Drier | 43.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" ✓ Less | 49.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,554 | 665,945 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.7 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.3% ✓ Higher | 34.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% ✓ More | 15.7% |
| Over 65 | 14.4% ✓ More | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Beaverton's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Boston's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Beaverton is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Beaverton leads 17 of 23 categories. Beaverton wins 17 and Boston wins 6. 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 Beaverton to Boston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($494,700 vs $684,900 median home), income ($88,899 vs $89,212), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Beaverton, OR and Boston, MA are about 2,543 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.