Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boston, MA
VS
San Jose, CA
🏆 San Jose 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
San Jose
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,010 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
160⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
1,001,176 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boston, MA
Pros
Homes cost $465k less ($684,900 vs $1,149,600)
Rent averages $545/mo less ($1,981 vs $2,526)
More college-educated — 53.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 10.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Jose by $46,798/yr
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)
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 4.7%)
San Jose, CA
Pros
Households earn $46,798 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (4.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 37°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,149,600
Violent crime (606.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $2,526/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Key Differences at a Glance
Boston
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 111.6 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Boston
Median Home Value
$465k less
$684,900 vs $1,149,600
San Jose
Median Income
$46,798
$136,010 vs $89,212/yr
San Jose
Violent Crime
3% lower
606.8 vs 627.9 per 100k
San Jose
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | San Jose, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $684,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,149,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,981⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,526⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,212 | $136,010 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High | 28.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.1% | 16.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 160⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 123⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 46.0% |
| High School or Higher | 88.4% ✓ Higher | 85.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boston | San Jose Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 82.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.6" | 18.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 665,945 | 1,001,176 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 37.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.8% | 55.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | 21.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boston's cost of living index is 111.6 vs San Jose's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Boston is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Jose leads 14 of 23 categories. Boston wins 9 and San Jose 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 San Jose or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($684,900 vs $1,149,600 median home), income ($89,212 vs $136,010), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boston, MA and San Jose, CA are about 2,678 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.