Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boston, MA
VS
Washington, DC
🏆 Washington 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 ✓ Safer
Population
665,945
Washington
District of Columbia
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$101,722 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
244⚠ High
Population
670,587 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boston, MA
Pros
32% less violent crime than Washington
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (6.6%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 90°F
Homes cost $20k less ($684,900 vs $705,000)
Cons
Violent crime (627.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Washington by $12,510/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Higher rents — median is $1,981/mo
Washington, DC
Pros
Households earn $12,510 more per year on average
More college-educated — 62.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $164/mo less ($1,817 vs $1,981)
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 37°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Boston
Cons
Violent crime (925.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3588.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pricier housing — median home is $705,000
Key Differences at a Glance
Boston
Violent Crime
32% lower
627.9 vs 925.9 per 100k
Boston
Median Home Value
$20k less
$684,900 vs $705,000
Boston
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
6.6% vs 7.1% unemployment
Washington
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 108.6 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Washington
Median Income
$12,510
$101,722 vs $89,212/yr
Washington
Summer Heat
7.7°F warmer
July avg high 89.8°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | Washington, DC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $684,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $705,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,981⚠ High | $1,817⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,212 | $101,722 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High | 30.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.1% | 25.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer | 215⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High ✓ Safer | 244⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | A (119) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 10.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.4% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.4% | 92.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boston | District of Columbia Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 44.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 89.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.6" ✓ Drier | 45.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 9.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 665,945 | 670,587 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 34.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.8% | 41.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | 18.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 12.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boston's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Washington's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Washington is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Washington leads 15 of 23 categories. Boston wins 8 and Washington 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 Washington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($684,900 vs $705,000 median home), income ($89,212 vs $101,722), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boston, MA and Washington, DC are about 394 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.