Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boston, MA
VS
Raleigh, NC
🏆 Raleigh leads 15 of 23 categories
Boston
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,212 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
165⚠ High
Population
665,945 ✓ Larger
Raleigh
North Carolina
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,631
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
465,517
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boston, MA
Pros
Households earn $10,581 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 91°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 14% higher than Raleigh
Raleigh, NC
Pros
Homes cost $338k less ($347,000 vs $684,900)
Rent averages $610/mo less ($1,371 vs $1,981)
22% less violent crime than Boston
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (4.5%)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Boston
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (488.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2819.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Boston by $10,581/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Boston
Median Income
$10,581
$89,212 vs $78,631/yr
Raleigh
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Raleigh
Violent Crime
22% lower
488.8 vs 627.9 per 100k
Raleigh
Median Home Value
$338k less
$347,000 vs $684,900
Raleigh
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
4.5% vs 6.6% unemployment
Raleigh
Summer Heat
8.5°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | Raleigh, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $684,900⚠ High | $347,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,981⚠ High | $1,371⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,212 ✓ Higher | $78,631 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.1% | 20.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 134⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | A- (117) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 52.7% |
| High School or Higher | 88.4% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boston | Wake County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 51.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.6" ✓ Drier | 49.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 4.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 665,945 ✓ Larger | 465,517 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 34.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.8% | 51.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | 20.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boston's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Raleigh's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Raleigh is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Raleigh leads 15 of 23 categories. Boston wins 8 and Raleigh 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 Raleigh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($684,900 vs $347,000 median home), income ($89,212 vs $78,631), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boston, MA and Raleigh, NC are about 607 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.