Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boston, MA
VS
Tucson, AZ
🏆 Tucson 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
Population
665,945 ✓ Larger
Tucson
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,049
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
541,033
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boston, MA
Pros
Households earn $37,163 more per year on average
More college-educated — 53.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 100°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 17% higher than Tucson
Tucson, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $467k less ($218,200 vs $684,900)
Rent averages $990/mo less ($991 vs $1,981)
6% less violent crime than Boston
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Boston
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 37°F
Cons
Median income trails Boston by $37,163/yr
Violent crime (588.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3313.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Boston
Median Income
$37,163
$89,212 vs $52,049/yr
Tucson
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 94.3 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Tucson
Violent Crime
6% lower
588.8 vs 627.9 per 100k
Tucson
Median Home Value
$467k less
$218,200 vs $684,900
Tucson
Summer Heat
18.1°F warmer
July avg high 100.2°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | Tucson, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 94.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $684,900⚠ High | $218,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,981⚠ High | $991 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,212 ✓ Higher | $52,049 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 6.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.1% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 158⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 88.4% ✓ Higher | 86.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boston | Tucson Unified District (4403) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 66.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 100.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.6" | 12.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 665,945 ✓ Larger | 541,033 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 33.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.8% | 50.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | 20.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 15.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boston's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Tucson's 94.3 (US average = 100).
Tucson is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tucson leads 14 of 23 categories. Boston wins 9 and Tucson 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 Tucson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($684,900 vs $218,200 median home), income ($89,212 vs $52,049), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boston, MA and Tucson, AZ are about 2,279 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.