Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boston, MA
VS
Stockton, CA
🏆 Boston leads 12 of 23 categories
Boston
Massachusetts
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,212 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
165⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
665,945 ✓ Larger
Stockton
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,612
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
320,030
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boston, MA
Pros
45% less violent crime than Stockton
More college-educated — 53.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $17,600 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (6.6%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 95°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)
Stockton, CA
Pros
Homes cost $303k less ($382,000 vs $684,900)
Rent averages $564/mo less ($1,417 vs $1,981)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 37°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Boston
Cons
Violent crime (1145.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Boston by $17,600/yr
Property crime (2639.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 6.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Boston
Median Income
$17,600
$89,212 vs $71,612/yr
Boston
Violent Crime
45% lower
627.9 vs 1145.8 per 100k
Boston
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
6.6% vs 7.7% unemployment
Stockton
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 107.4 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Stockton
Median Home Value
$303k less
$382,000 vs $684,900
Stockton
Summer Heat
12.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.7°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | Stockton, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 107.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $684,900⚠ High | $382,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,981⚠ High | $1,417⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,212 ✓ Higher | $71,612 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 32.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.1% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High ✓ Safer | 302⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | C- (74) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 18.3% |
| High School or Higher | 88.4% ✓ Higher | 77.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boston | Stockton Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 58.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 94.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.6" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 665,945 ✓ Larger | 320,030 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 33.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.8% | 51.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 12.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boston's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Stockton's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Stockton is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boston leads 12 of 23 categories. Boston wins 12 and Stockton 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 Stockton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($684,900 vs $382,000 median home), income ($89,212 vs $71,612), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boston, MA and Stockton, CA are about 2,634 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.