Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boston, MA
VS
Stamford, CT
🏆 Stamford leads 15 of 23 categories
Boston
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,212
Violent Crime Index
165⚠ High
Population
665,945 ✓ Larger
Stamford
Connecticut
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$100,718 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
135,413
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boston, MA
Pros
Rent averages $148/mo less ($1,981 vs $2,129)
More college-educated — 53.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 10.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (627.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $684,900
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Median income trails Stamford by $11,506/yr
Stamford, CT
Pros
75% less violent crime than Boston
Violent crime is well below the national average (157.5 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $100k less ($584,700 vs $684,900)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.5%)
Households earn $11,506 more per year on average
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Boston
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,129/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Stamford
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 106.5 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Stamford
Median Income
$11,506
$100,718 vs $89,212/yr
Stamford
Violent Crime
75% lower
157.5 vs 627.9 per 100k
Stamford
Median Home Value
$100k less
$584,700 vs $684,900
Stamford
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | Stamford, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $684,900⚠ High | $584,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,981⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,129⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,212 | $100,718 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High | 27.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.1% ✓ Higher | 14.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 58 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | A (120) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 12.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 50.4% |
| High School or Higher | 88.4% ✓ Higher | 88.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boston | Stamford School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 38.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 84.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.6" ✓ Drier | 50.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 34.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 665,945 ✓ Larger | 135,413 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.8% | 46.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | 19.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boston's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Stamford's 106.5 (US average = 100).
Stamford is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Stamford leads 15 of 23 categories. Boston wins 8 and Stamford wins 15. 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 Stamford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($684,900 vs $584,700 median home), income ($89,212 vs $100,718), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boston, MA and Stamford, CT are about 157 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.