Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boston, MA
VS
Redding, CA
🏆 Redding leads 16 of 23 categories
Boston
Massachusetts
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,212 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
165⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
665,945 ✓ Larger
Redding
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,323
Violent Crime Index
170⚠ High
Population
93,327
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boston, MA
Pros
Households earn $21,889 more per year on average
More college-educated — 53.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 100°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)
Redding, CA
Pros
Homes cost $342k less ($343,000 vs $684,900)
Rent averages $703/mo less ($1,278 vs $1,981)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 37°F
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Boston
Cons
Violent crime (647.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Boston by $21,889/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Boston
Median Income
$21,889
$89,212 vs $67,323/yr
Boston
Violent Crime
3% lower
627.9 vs 647.8 per 100k
Redding
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 102.8 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Redding
Median Home Value
$342k less
$343,000 vs $684,900
Redding
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.9% vs 6.6% unemployment
Redding
Summer Heat
17.8°F warmer
July avg high 99.9°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | Redding, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 102.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $684,900⚠ High | $343,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,981⚠ High | $1,278 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,212 ✓ Higher | $67,323 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High | 16.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.1% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High ✓ Safer | 170⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 83 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | C (77) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 26.4% |
| High School or Higher | 88.4% | 92.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boston | Redding Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 99.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.6" | 41.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 0.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 665,945 ✓ Larger | 93,327 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 38.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.8% | 54.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | 22.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 19.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boston's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Redding's 102.8 (US average = 100).
Redding is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Redding leads 16 of 23 categories. Boston wins 7 and Redding wins 16. 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 Redding or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($684,900 vs $343,000 median home), income ($89,212 vs $67,323), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boston, MA and Redding, CA are about 2,621 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.