Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boston, MA
VS
Spokane, WA
🏆 Spokane leads 14 of 23 categories
Boston
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,212 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
165⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
665,945 ✓ Larger
Spokane
Washington
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,316
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
227,922
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boston, MA
Pros
Households earn $25,896 more per year on average
7% less violent crime than Spokane
More college-educated — 53.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 87°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $684,900
Higher rents — median is $1,981/mo
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)
Spokane, WA
Pros
Homes cost $398k less ($286,900 vs $684,900)
Rent averages $921/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,981)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Boston
Cons
Median income trails Boston by $25,896/yr
Violent crime (674.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4840.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Boston
Median Income
$25,896
$89,212 vs $63,316/yr
Boston
Violent Crime
7% lower
627.9 vs 674.9 per 100k
Spokane
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 101.0 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Spokane
Median Home Value
$398k less
$286,900 vs $684,900
Spokane
Summer Heat
5.0°F warmer
July avg high 87.1°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | Spokane, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $684,900⚠ High | $286,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,981⚠ High | $1,060 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,212 ✓ Higher | $63,316 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High | 20.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.1% ✓ Higher | 12.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 32.7% |
| High School or Higher | 88.4% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boston | Spokane School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 37.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 87.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.6" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 45.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 665,945 ✓ Larger | 227,922 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.8% | 57.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | 20.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boston's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Spokane's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Spokane is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Spokane leads 14 of 23 categories. Boston wins 9 and Spokane 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 Spokane or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($684,900 vs $286,900 median home), income ($89,212 vs $63,316), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boston, MA and Spokane, WA are about 2,263 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.