Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boston, MA
VS
Houston, TX
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Boston
Massachusetts
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,212 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
165⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
665,945
Houston
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,440
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
2,296,253 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boston, MA
Pros
Households earn $28,772 more per year on average
45% less violent crime than Houston
More college-educated — 53.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 93°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
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Houston, TX
Pros
Homes cost $450k less ($235,000 vs $684,900)
Rent averages $746/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,981)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 37°F
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Boston
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Boston by $28,772/yr
Violent crime (1148.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4293.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Boston
Median Income
$28,772
$89,212 vs $60,440/yr
Boston
Violent Crime
45% lower
627.9 vs 1148.2 per 100k
Houston
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Houston
Median Home Value
$450k less
$235,000 vs $684,900
Houston
Summer Heat
11.1°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | Houston, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $684,900⚠ High | $235,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,981⚠ High | $1,235 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,212 ✓ Higher | $60,440 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High | 27.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.1% ✓ Higher | 9.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High ✓ Safer | 302⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 35.2% |
| High School or Higher | 88.4% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boston | HOUSTON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 62.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.6" ✓ Drier | 55.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 665,945 | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 33.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.8% | 42.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | 23.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boston's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Houston's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Houston is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Boston wins 11 and Houston wins 11. 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 Houston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($684,900 vs $235,000 median home), income ($89,212 vs $60,440), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boston, MA and Houston, TX are about 1,605 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.