Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boston, MA
VS
St. George, UT
🏆 St. George leads 17 of 23 categories
Boston
Massachusetts
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,212 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
165⚠ High
Population
665,945 ✓ Larger
St. George
Utah
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,333
Violent Crime Index
55 ✓ Safer
Population
96,174
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boston, MA
Pros
Households earn $19,879 more per year on average
More college-educated — 53.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 102°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
Cost of living runs 16% higher than St. George
St. George, UT
Pros
Homes cost $270k less ($415,200 vs $684,900)
67% less violent crime than Boston
Rent averages $646/mo less ($1,335 vs $1,981)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (3.3%)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (210.0 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Median income trails Boston by $19,879/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 102°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Boston
Median Income
$19,879
$89,212 vs $69,333/yr
St. George
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
St. George
Violent Crime
67% lower
210.0 vs 627.9 per 100k
St. George
Median Home Value
$270k less
$415,200 vs $684,900
St. George
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
3.3% vs 6.6% unemployment
St. George
Summer Heat
19.8°F warmer
July avg high 101.9°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | St. George, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $684,900⚠ High | $415,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,981⚠ High | $1,335⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,212 ✓ Higher | $69,333 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High | 16.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.1% ✓ Higher | 13.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 55 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 32.6% |
| High School or Higher | 88.4% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boston | Washington District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 54.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 101.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.6" | 9.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 1.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 665,945 ✓ Larger | 96,174 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.8% | 67.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boston's cost of living index is 111.6 vs St. George's 96.1 (US average = 100).
St. George is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. George leads 17 of 23 categories. Boston wins 6 and St. George wins 17. 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 St. George or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($684,900 vs $415,200 median home), income ($89,212 vs $69,333), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boston, MA and St. George, UT are about 2,267 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.