Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boston, MA
VS
Gresham, OR
🏆 Gresham 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
Gresham
Oregon
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,437
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
113,525
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boston, MA
Pros
Households earn $19,775 more per year on average
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)
Gresham, OR
Pros
Homes cost $273k less ($411,700 vs $684,900)
35% less violent crime than Boston
Rent averages $529/mo less ($1,452 vs $1,981)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.8%)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 37°F
Cons
Median income trails Boston by $19,775/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Boston
Median Income
$19,775
$89,212 vs $69,437/yr
Gresham
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Gresham
Violent Crime
35% lower
410.2 vs 627.9 per 100k
Gresham
Median Home Value
$273k less
$411,700 vs $684,900
Gresham
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.8% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | Gresham, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $684,900⚠ High | $411,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,981⚠ High | $1,452⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,212 ✓ Higher | $69,437 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High | 27.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.1% ✓ Higher | 10.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 23.2% |
| High School or Higher | 88.4% ✓ Higher | 87.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boston | Gresham-Barlow SD 10J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 46.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.6" | 40.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 3.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 665,945 ✓ Larger | 113,525 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.8% | 55.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | 22.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 14.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boston's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Gresham's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Gresham is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Gresham leads 14 of 23 categories. Boston wins 9 and Gresham 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 Gresham or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($684,900 vs $411,700 median home), income ($89,212 vs $69,437), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boston, MA and Gresham, OR are about 2,525 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.