Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boston, MA
VS
Green Bay, WI
🏆 Green Bay 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
Green Bay
Wisconsin
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,174
Violent Crime Index
130⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
106,846
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boston, MA
Pros
Households earn $30,038 more per year on average
More college-educated — 53.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 37°F vs 25°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
Violent crime (627.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Green Bay
Green Bay, WI
Pros
Homes cost $512k less ($172,700 vs $684,900)
Rent averages $1117/mo less ($864 vs $1,981)
21% less violent crime than Boston
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (4.1%)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Boston
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Boston by $30,038/yr
Violent crime (495.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Snowy winters — about 56" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Boston
Median Income
$30,038
$89,212 vs $59,174/yr
Green Bay
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 92.1 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Green Bay
Violent Crime
21% lower
495.1 vs 627.9 per 100k
Green Bay
Median Home Value
$512k less
$172,700 vs $684,900
Green Bay
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
4.1% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | Green Bay, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $684,900⚠ High | $172,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,981⚠ High | $864 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,212 ✓ Higher | $59,174 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High | 18.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.1% ✓ Higher | 7.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 62 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 12.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 25.1% |
| High School or Higher | 88.4% | 88.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boston | Green Bay Area Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F ✓ Warmer | 24.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.6" | 32.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" ✓ Less | 55.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 665,945 ✓ Larger | 106,846 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.8% | 56.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boston's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Green Bay's 92.1 (US average = 100).
Green Bay is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Green Bay leads 14 of 23 categories. Boston wins 9 and Green Bay 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 Green Bay or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($684,900 vs $172,700 median home), income ($89,212 vs $59,174), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boston, MA and Green Bay, WI are about 863 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.