Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boston, MA
VS
Edinburg, TX
🏆 Edinburg leads 13 of 23 categories
Boston
Massachusetts
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,212 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
165⚠ High
Population
665,945 ✓ Larger
Edinburg
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,139
Violent Crime Index
71 ✓ Safer
Population
100,964
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boston, MA
Pros
Households earn $35,073 more per year on average
More college-educated — 53.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (6.6%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 97°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
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Edinburg
Violent crime (627.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Edinburg, TX
Pros
Homes cost $525k less ($159,600 vs $684,900)
Rent averages $1061/mo less ($920 vs $1,981)
57% less violent crime than Boston
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Boston
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 37°F
Cons
Median income trails Boston by $35,073/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Boston
Median Income
$35,073
$89,212 vs $54,139/yr
Boston
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
6.6% vs 7.2% unemployment
Edinburg
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Edinburg
Violent Crime
57% lower
269.6 vs 627.9 per 100k
Edinburg
Median Home Value
$525k less
$159,600 vs $684,900
Edinburg
Summer Heat
14.6°F warmer
July avg high 96.7°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | Edinburg, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $684,900⚠ High | $159,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,981⚠ High | $920 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,212 ✓ Higher | $54,139 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High | 19.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.1% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 71 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 84 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 28.4% |
| High School or Higher | 88.4% ✓ Higher | 79.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boston | EDINBURG CISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 70.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 96.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.6" | 26.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 665,945 ✓ Larger | 100,964 |
| Median Age | 32.9 ✓ Older | 29.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.8% | 53.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | 27.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 9.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boston's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Edinburg's 85.6 (US average = 100).
Edinburg is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Edinburg leads 13 of 23 categories. Boston wins 10 and Edinburg wins 13. 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 Edinburg or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($684,900 vs $159,600 median home), income ($89,212 vs $54,139), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boston, MA and Edinburg, TX are about 1,890 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.