Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boston, MA
VS
Santa Monica, CA
🏆 Boston leads 12 of 23 categories
Boston
Massachusetts
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$89,212
Violent Crime Index
165⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
665,945 ✓ Larger
Santa Monica
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,797 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
205⚠ High
Population
92,168
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boston, MA
Pros
Homes cost $970k less ($684,900 vs $1,654,800)
19% less violent crime than Santa Monica
Rent averages $246/mo less ($1,981 vs $2,227)
Smaller class sizes — 10.6:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Monica
Cons
Violent crime (627.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Santa Monica by $17,585/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Longer commutes — 30.6 min average each way
Santa Monica, CA
Pros
Households earn $17,585 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 37°F
More college-educated — 67.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 69°F vs 82°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,654,800
Violent crime (778.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (4790.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Boston
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 111.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Boston
Violent Crime
19% lower
627.9 vs 778.0 per 100k
Boston
Median Home Value
$970k less
$684,900 vs $1,654,800
Boston
Summer Heat
12.7°F warmer
July avg high 82.1°F vs 69.4°F
Santa Monica
Median Income
$17,585
$106,797 vs $89,212/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | Santa Monica, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $684,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,654,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,981⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,227⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,212 | $106,797 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High | 25.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.1% | 27.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer | 214⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 228⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | A- (114) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.4% | 67.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.4% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boston | Santa Monica-Malibu Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 62.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F ✓ Warmer | 69.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.6" | 12.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 665,945 ✓ Larger | 92,168 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 42.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.8% ✓ Higher | 28.9% |
| Under 18 | 15.7% ✓ More | 15.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 18.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boston's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Santa Monica's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Boston is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boston leads 12 of 23 categories. Boston wins 12 and Santa Monica wins 11. 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 Santa Monica or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($684,900 vs $1,654,800 median home), income ($89,212 vs $106,797), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boston, MA and Santa Monica, CA are about 2,607 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.