Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boston, MA
VS
Compton, CA
🏆 Boston leads 15 of 23 categories
Boston
Massachusetts
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$89,212 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
165⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
665,945 ✓ Larger
Compton
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,728
Violent Crime Index
335⚠ High
Population
94,822
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boston, MA
Pros
51% less violent crime than Compton
More college-educated — 53.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $19,484 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (6.6%)
Smaller class sizes — 10.6:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Compton
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)
Compton, CA
Pros
Homes cost $196k less ($489,400 vs $684,900)
Rent averages $517/mo less ($1,464 vs $1,981)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 37°F
Cons
Violent crime (1271.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Boston by $19,484/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (3145.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Boston
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 111.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Boston
Median Income
$19,484
$89,212 vs $69,728/yr
Boston
Violent Crime
51% lower
627.9 vs 1271.7 per 100k
Boston
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
6.6% vs 7.9% unemployment
Boston
Summer Heat
4.9°F warmer
July avg high 82.1°F vs 77.2°F
Compton
Median Home Value
$196k less
$489,400 vs $684,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | Compton, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $684,900⚠ High | $489,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,981⚠ High | $1,464⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,212 ✓ Higher | $69,728 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.1% ✓ Higher | 3.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer | 261⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High ✓ Safer | 335⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 150⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | C (77) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 10.4% |
| High School or Higher | 88.4% ✓ Higher | 63.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boston | Compton Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F ✓ Warmer | 77.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.6" | 11.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 665,945 ✓ Larger | 94,822 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 33.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.8% | 57.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | 27.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boston's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Compton's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Boston is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boston leads 15 of 23 categories. Boston wins 15 and Compton wins 8. 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 Compton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($684,900 vs $489,400 median home), income ($89,212 vs $69,728), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boston, MA and Compton, CA are about 2,597 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.