Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boston, MA
VS
Eugene, OR
🏆 Eugene leads 14 of 23 categories
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
Eugene
Oregon
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,481
Violent Crime Index
84 ✓ Safer
Population
176,755
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boston, MA
Pros
Households earn $27,731 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (6.6%)
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
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)
Eugene, OR
Pros
Homes cost $279k less ($406,000 vs $684,900)
Rent averages $712/mo less ($1,269 vs $1,981)
49% less violent crime than Boston
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Boston
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 37°F
Cons
Median income trails Boston by $27,731/yr
Property crime (3255.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Boston
Median Income
$27,731
$89,212 vs $61,481/yr
Boston
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
6.6% vs 7.1% unemployment
Eugene
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 103.8 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Eugene
Violent Crime
49% lower
317.9 vs 627.9 per 100k
Eugene
Median Home Value
$279k less
$406,000 vs $684,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | Eugene, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 103.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $684,900⚠ High | $406,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,981⚠ High | $1,269 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,212 ✓ Higher | $61,481 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.1% ✓ Higher | 13.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 44.2% |
| High School or Higher | 88.4% | 94.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boston | Eugene SD 4J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 84.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.6" ✓ Drier | 45.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 2.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 665,945 ✓ Larger | 176,755 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 35.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.8% | 47.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | 16.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 17.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boston's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Eugene's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Eugene is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Eugene leads 14 of 23 categories. Boston wins 9 and Eugene wins 14. 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 Eugene or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($684,900 vs $406,000 median home), income ($89,212 vs $61,481), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boston, MA and Eugene, OR are about 2,583 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.