Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boston, MA
VS
Seattle, WA
🏆 Seattle 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 ✓ Safer
Population
665,945
Seattle
Washington
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,068 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
204⚠ High
Population
734,603 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boston, MA
Pros
19% less violent crime than Seattle
Homes cost $195k less ($684,900 vs $879,900)
Smaller class sizes — 10.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (627.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Seattle by $26,856/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 4.2%)
Seattle, WA
Pros
Households earn $26,856 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (4.2%)
More college-educated — 66.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 37°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 82°F
Cons
Violent crime (775.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $879,900
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (5007.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Boston
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 111.6 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Boston
Violent Crime
19% lower
627.9 vs 775.1 per 100k
Boston
Median Home Value
$195k less
$684,900 vs $879,900
Boston
Summer Heat
5.6°F warmer
July avg high 82.1°F vs 76.5°F
Seattle
Median Income
$26,856
$116,068 vs $89,212/yr
Seattle
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
4.2% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | Seattle, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $684,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $879,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,981⚠ High | $1,945⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,212 | $116,068 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High | 27.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.1% | 27.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 238⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | A- (112) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.4% | 66.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.4% | 95.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boston | Seattle School District No. 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 47.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.6" | 38.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 3.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 665,945 | 734,603 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.8% | 44.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.7% ✓ More | 14.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 12.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boston's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Seattle's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Boston is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Seattle leads 14 of 23 categories. Boston wins 9 and Seattle 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 Seattle or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($684,900 vs $879,900 median home), income ($89,212 vs $116,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boston, MA and Seattle, WA are about 2,489 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.