Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boston, MA
VS
Yakima, WA
🏆 Yakima 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
Yakima
Washington
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,734
Violent Crime Index
143⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
96,764
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boston, MA
Pros
Households earn $33,478 more per year on average
More college-educated — 53.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (6.6%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 88°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)
Yakima, WA
Pros
Homes cost $442k less ($243,300 vs $684,900)
Rent averages $967/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,981)
13% less violent crime than Boston
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Boston
Cons
Median income trails Boston by $33,478/yr
Violent crime (544.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 6.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Boston
Median Income
$33,478
$89,212 vs $55,734/yr
Boston
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
6.6% vs 8.1% unemployment
Yakima
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 101.6 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Yakima
Violent Crime
13% lower
544.3 vs 627.9 per 100k
Yakima
Median Home Value
$442k less
$243,300 vs $684,900
Yakima
Summer Heat
6.2°F warmer
July avg high 88.3°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | Yakima, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $684,900⚠ High | $243,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,981⚠ High | $1,014 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,212 ✓ Higher | $55,734 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High | 17.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.1% ✓ Higher | 5.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 19.3% |
| High School or Higher | 88.4% ✓ Higher | 77.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boston | Yakima School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 39.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.6" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 20.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 665,945 ✓ Larger | 96,764 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 33.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.8% | 53.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boston's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Yakima's 101.6 (US average = 100).
Yakima is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Yakima leads 14 of 23 categories. Boston wins 9 and Yakima 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 Yakima or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($684,900 vs $243,300 median home), income ($89,212 vs $55,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boston, MA and Yakima, WA are about 2,420 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.