Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boulder, CO
VS
Lynn, MA
🏆 Boulder leads 14 of 23 categories
Boulder
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$80,243 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
85 ✓ Safer
Population
106,598 ✓ Larger
Lynn
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$70,046
Violent Crime Index
151⚠ High
Population
100,653
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boulder, CO
Pros
More college-educated — 76.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
44% less violent crime than Lynn
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Households earn $10,197 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 36°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Lynn
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $919,700
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Property crime (2733.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 85" of snow per year
Lynn, MA
Pros
Homes cost $477k less ($442,800 vs $919,700)
Rent averages $342/mo less ($1,511 vs $1,853)
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 88°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (574.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Boulder by $10,197/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Longer commutes — 31.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Boulder
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 107.2 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Boulder
Median Income
$10,197
$80,243 vs $70,046/yr
Boulder
Violent Crime
44% lower
322.3 vs 574.6 per 100k
Boulder
Summer Heat
7.7°F warmer
July avg high 88.0°F vs 80.3°F
Lynn
Median Home Value
$477k less
$442,800 vs $919,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boulder, CO | Lynn, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $919,700⚠ High | $442,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High | $1,511⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,243 ✓ Higher | $70,046 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 28.0% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 113⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 85 ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.6% ✓ Higher | 21.9% |
| High School or Higher | 96.9% ✓ Higher | 77.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boulder Valley School District No. Re2 | Lynn |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.0°F ✓ Warmer | 36.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 47.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 85.2" | 39.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,598 ✓ Larger | 100,653 |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 36.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.2% | 48.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 11.7% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 13.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boulder's cost of living index is 107.2 vs Lynn's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Boulder is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boulder leads 14 of 23 categories. Boulder wins 14 and Lynn wins 9. 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 Boulder to Lynn or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($919,700 vs $442,800 median home), income ($80,243 vs $70,046), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boulder, CO and Lynn, MA are about 1,777 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.