Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boston, MA
VS
Sacramento, CA
🏆 Sacramento leads 13 of 23 categories
Boston
Massachusetts
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,212 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
165⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
665,945 ✓ Larger
Sacramento
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,954
Violent Crime Index
199⚠ High
Population
523,600
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boston, MA
Pros
17% less violent crime than Sacramento
More college-educated — 53.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $10,258 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $684,900
Violent crime (627.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,981/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Sacramento, CA
Pros
Homes cost $234k less ($450,500 vs $684,900)
Rent averages $389/mo less ($1,592 vs $1,981)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 37°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Boston
Cons
Violent crime (754.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2547.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Boston by $10,258/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Boston
Median Income
$10,258
$89,212 vs $78,954/yr
Boston
Violent Crime
17% lower
627.9 vs 754.9 per 100k
Sacramento
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 108.9 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Sacramento
Median Home Value
$234k less
$450,500 vs $684,900
Sacramento
Summer Heat
12.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.4°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | Sacramento, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $684,900⚠ High | $450,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,981⚠ High | $1,592⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,212 ✓ Higher | $78,954 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.1% ✓ Higher | 15.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 121⚠ 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 | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 35.8% |
| High School or Higher | 88.4% ✓ Higher | 86.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boston | Sacramento City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.6" | 20.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 665,945 ✓ Larger | 523,600 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 35.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.8% | 50.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boston's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Sacramento's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Sacramento is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sacramento leads 13 of 23 categories. Boston wins 10 and Sacramento wins 13. 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 Sacramento or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($684,900 vs $450,500 median home), income ($89,212 vs $78,954), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boston, MA and Sacramento, CA are about 2,626 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.