Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boston, MA
VS
Reno, NV
🏆 Reno 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
Population
665,945 ✓ Larger
Reno
Nevada
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,073
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
265,196
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boston, MA
Pros
Households earn $16,139 more per year on average
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)
Reno, NV
Pros
Homes cost $223k less ($462,100 vs $684,900)
Rent averages $621/mo less ($1,360 vs $1,981)
16% less violent crime than Boston
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.0%)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Boston
Cons
Violent crime (529.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Boston by $16,139/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Boston
Median Income
$16,139
$89,212 vs $73,073/yr
Reno
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 102.8 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Reno
Violent Crime
16% lower
529.6 vs 627.9 per 100k
Reno
Median Home Value
$223k less
$462,100 vs $684,900
Reno
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.6% unemployment
Reno
Summer Heat
10.6°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | Reno, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 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 | $462,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,981⚠ High | $1,360⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,212 ✓ Higher | $73,073 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.1% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 35.3% |
| High School or Higher | 88.4% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boston | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 45.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.6" | 9.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 33.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 665,945 ✓ Larger | 265,196 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.8% | 48.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | 19.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boston's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Reno's 102.8 (US average = 100).
Reno is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Reno leads 16 of 23 categories. Boston wins 7 and Reno 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 Reno or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($684,900 vs $462,100 median home), income ($89,212 vs $73,073), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boston, MA and Reno, NV are about 2,521 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.