Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boston, MA
VS
Tracy, CA
🏆 Tracy leads 14 of 23 categories
Boston
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,212
Violent Crime Index
165⚠ High
Population
665,945 ✓ Larger
Tracy
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$111,717 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
79 ✓ Safer
Population
94,027
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boston, MA
Pros
More college-educated — 53.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Rent averages $181/mo less ($1,981 vs $2,162)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 93°F
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 Tracy by $22,505/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.4%)
Tracy, CA
Pros
52% less violent crime than Boston
Households earn $22,505 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 37°F
Homes cost $68k less ($617,300 vs $684,900)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Boston
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,162/mo
Longer commutes — 43.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Tracy
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 107.4 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Tracy
Median Income
$22,505
$111,717 vs $89,212/yr
Tracy
Violent Crime
52% lower
301.4 vs 627.9 per 100k
Tracy
Median Home Value
$68k less
$617,300 vs $684,900
Tracy
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.6% unemployment
Tracy
Summer Heat
11.1°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | Tracy, 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 | $617,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,981⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,162⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,212 | $111,717 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 43.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.1% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 76 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | C- (71) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 88.4% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boston | Jefferson Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.6" | 12.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 665,945 ✓ Larger | 94,027 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 34.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.8% | 64.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 9.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boston's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Tracy's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Tracy is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tracy leads 14 of 23 categories. Boston wins 9 and Tracy 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 Tracy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($684,900 vs $617,300 median home), income ($89,212 vs $111,717), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boston, MA and Tracy, CA are about 2,648 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.