Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boston, MA
VS
Renton, WA
🏆 Renton 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
Renton
Washington
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,292 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
105,355
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boston, MA
Pros
More college-educated — 53.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 10.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (627.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $684,900
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 4.2%)
Renton, WA
Pros
46% less violent crime than Boston
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (4.2%)
Homes cost $108k less ($576,800 vs $684,900)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 37°F
Rent averages $117/mo less ($1,864 vs $1,981)
Households earn $3,080 more per year on average
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (3313.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Boston
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 111.6 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Boston
Summer Heat
4.9°F warmer
July avg high 82.1°F vs 77.2°F
Renton
Median Income
$3,080
$92,292 vs $89,212/yr
Renton
Violent Crime
46% lower
339.2 vs 627.9 per 100k
Renton
Median Home Value
$108k less
$576,800 vs $684,900
Renton
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
4.2% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | Renton, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $684,900⚠ High | $576,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,981⚠ High | $1,864⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,212 | $92,292 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.1% | 16.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 158⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 36.9% |
| High School or Higher | 88.4% | 89.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boston | Renton School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F ✓ Warmer | 77.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.6" ✓ Drier | 44.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 6.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 665,945 ✓ Larger | 105,355 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.8% | 53.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | 20.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 12.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boston's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Renton's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Boston is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Renton leads 14 of 23 categories. Boston wins 9 and Renton 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 Renton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($684,900 vs $576,800 median home), income ($89,212 vs $92,292), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boston, MA and Renton, WA are about 2,483 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.