Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boston, MA
VS
San Leandro, CA
🏆 Boston leads 13 of 23 categories
Boston
Massachusetts
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$89,212
Violent Crime Index
165⚠ High
Population
665,945 ✓ Larger
San Leandro
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,141 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
89,723
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
Homes cost $88k less ($684,900 vs $772,700)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than San Leandro
Smaller class sizes — 10.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
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 5.0%)
Median income trails San Leandro by $7,929/yr
San Leandro, CA
Pros
13% less violent crime than Boston
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 37°F
Households earn $7,929 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 82°F
Cons
Violent crime (548.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Property crime (3922.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pricier housing — median home is $772,700
Key Differences at a Glance
Boston
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 111.6 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Boston
Median Home Value
$88k less
$684,900 vs $772,700
Boston
Summer Heat
10.5°F warmer
July avg high 82.1°F vs 71.6°F
San Leandro
Median Income
$7,929
$97,141 vs $89,212/yr
San Leandro
Violent Crime
13% lower
548.7 vs 627.9 per 100k
San Leandro
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | San Leandro, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $684,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $772,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,981⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,997⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,212 | $97,141 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 32.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.1% ✓ Higher | 11.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer | 161⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 144⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 187⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| High School or Higher | 88.4% ✓ Higher | 84.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boston | San Leandro Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 57.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F ✓ Warmer | 71.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.6" | 18.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 665,945 ✓ Larger | 89,723 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.8% | 57.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | 17.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 17.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boston's cost of living index is 111.6 vs San Leandro's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Boston is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boston leads 13 of 23 categories. Boston wins 13 and San Leandro wins 10. 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 Leandro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($684,900 vs $772,700 median home), income ($89,212 vs $97,141), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boston, MA and San Leandro, CA are about 2,684 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.