Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boston, MA
VS
Orange, CA
🏆 Orange leads 14 of 23 categories
Boston
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$89,212
Violent Crime Index
165⚠ High
Population
665,945 ✓ Larger
Orange
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,335 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
138,728
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boston, MA
Pros
Homes cost $163k less ($684,900 vs $848,200)
More college-educated — 53.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $167/mo less ($1,981 vs $2,148)
Smaller class sizes — 10.6:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Orange
Cons
Violent crime (627.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Orange by $20,123/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 4.7%)
Orange, CA
Pros
64% less violent crime than Boston
Households earn $20,123 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (226.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (4.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 37°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $848,200
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher rents — median is $2,148/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
$163k less
$684,900 vs $848,200
Orange
Median Income
$20,123
$109,335 vs $89,212/yr
Orange
Violent Crime
64% lower
226.1 vs 627.9 per 100k
Orange
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | Orange, 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 | $848,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,981⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,148⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,212 | $109,335 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High | 26.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.1% ✓ Higher | 14.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 40.3% |
| High School or Higher | 88.4% ✓ Higher | 88.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boston | Orange Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.6" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 665,945 ✓ Larger | 138,728 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.8% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | 20.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 14.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boston's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Orange's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Boston is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orange leads 14 of 23 categories. Boston wins 9 and Orange 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 Orange or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($684,900 vs $848,200 median home), income ($89,212 vs $109,335), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boston, MA and Orange, CA are about 2,582 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.