Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boston, MA
VS
Huntington Beach, CA
🏆 Huntington Beach leads 15 of 23 categories
Boston
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$89,212
Violent Crime Index
165⚠ High
Population
665,945 ✓ Larger
Huntington Beach
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$114,747 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
55 ✓ Safer
Population
197,481
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boston, MA
Pros
Homes cost $292k less ($684,900 vs $976,800)
Rent averages $337/mo less ($1,981 vs $2,318)
More college-educated — 53.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 10.6:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Huntington Beach
Cons
Violent crime (627.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Huntington Beach by $25,535/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.4%)
Huntington Beach, CA
Pros
67% less violent crime than Boston
Households earn $25,535 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (207.3 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 37°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $976,800
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher rents — median is $2,318/mo
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Boston
Key Differences at a Glance
Boston
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 111.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Boston
Median Home Value
$292k less
$684,900 vs $976,800
Boston
Summer Heat
3.2°F warmer
July avg high 82.1°F vs 78.9°F
Huntington Beach
Median Income
$25,535
$114,747 vs $89,212/yr
Huntington Beach
Violent Crime
67% lower
207.3 vs 627.9 per 100k
Huntington Beach
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | Huntington Beach, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $684,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $976,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,981⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,318⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,212 | $114,747 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High | 29.7 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.1% | 16.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High | 71 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 55 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 95 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 46.7% |
| High School or Higher | 88.4% | 93.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boston | Huntington Beach City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F ✓ Warmer | 78.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.6" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 665,945 ✓ Larger | 197,481 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 43.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.8% | 55.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | 17.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boston's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Huntington Beach's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Boston is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Huntington Beach leads 15 of 23 categories. Boston wins 8 and Huntington Beach wins 15. 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 Huntington Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($684,900 vs $976,800 median home), income ($89,212 vs $114,747), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boston, MA and Huntington Beach, CA are about 2,592 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.