Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boston, MA
VS
Buckeye, AZ
🏆 Buckeye leads 16 of 23 categories
Boston
Massachusetts
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,212
Violent Crime Index
165⚠ High
Population
665,945 ✓ Larger
Buckeye
Arizona
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$94,188 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
95,042
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boston, MA
Pros
More college-educated — 53.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 107°F
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
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Buckeye
Buckeye, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $343k less ($341,700 vs $684,900)
73% less violent crime than Boston
Rent averages $384/mo less ($1,597 vs $1,981)
Violent crime is well below the national average (166.8 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 37°F
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Buckeye
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 100.0 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Buckeye
Median Income
$4,976
$94,188 vs $89,212/yr
Buckeye
Violent Crime
73% lower
166.8 vs 627.9 per 100k
Buckeye
Median Home Value
$343k less
$341,700 vs $684,900
Buckeye
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.6% unemployment
Buckeye
Summer Heat
24.4°F warmer
July avg high 106.5°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | Buckeye, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 100.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $684,900⚠ High | $341,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,981⚠ High | $1,597⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,212 | $94,188 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 32.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.1% ✓ Higher | 14.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 44 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 37 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 22.9% |
| High School or Higher | 88.4% ✓ Higher | 88.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boston | Litchfield Elementary District (4281) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 66.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 106.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.6" | 8.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 665,945 ✓ Larger | 95,042 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 34.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.8% | 85.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 12.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boston's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Buckeye's 100.0 (US average = 100).
Buckeye is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Buckeye leads 16 of 23 categories. Boston wins 7 and Buckeye wins 16. 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 Boston to Buckeye or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($684,900 vs $341,700 median home), income ($89,212 vs $94,188), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boston, MA and Buckeye, AZ are about 2,327 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.