Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boston, MA
VS
Richmond, VA
🏆 Richmond 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
Richmond
Virginia
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,606
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
227,171
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boston, MA
Pros
Households earn $29,606 more per year on average
More college-educated — 53.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 90°F
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 Richmond
Richmond, VA
Pros
Homes cost $377k less ($308,300 vs $684,900)
Rent averages $754/mo less ($1,227 vs $1,981)
46% less violent crime than Boston
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Boston
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (6.1%)
Cons
Median income trails Boston by $29,606/yr
Property crime (3179.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Boston
Median Income
$29,606
$89,212 vs $59,606/yr
Richmond
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Richmond
Violent Crime
46% lower
336.9 vs 627.9 per 100k
Richmond
Median Home Value
$377k less
$308,300 vs $684,900
Richmond
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
6.1% vs 6.6% unemployment
Richmond
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 89.5°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | Richmond, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $684,900⚠ High | $308,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,981⚠ High | $1,227 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,212 ✓ Higher | $59,606 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.1% ✓ Higher | 14.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 11.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 44.1% |
| High School or Higher | 88.4% | 88.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boston | Richmond City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 47.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 89.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.6" ✓ Drier | 47.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 8.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 665,945 ✓ Larger | 227,171 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.8% | 43.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | 17.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boston's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Richmond's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Richmond is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richmond leads 15 of 23 categories. Boston wins 8 and Richmond 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 Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($684,900 vs $308,300 median home), income ($89,212 vs $59,606), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boston, MA and Richmond, VA are about 477 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.