Boston-Cambridge-Newton receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Boston-Cambridge-Newton
Providence-Warwick
Opportunity
69 · Top 25%
vs60 · Top 40%
Growth
51 · Top 50%
vs41 · Bottom 36%
Climate
63 · Bottom 37%
vs65 · Bottom 43%
Physical resilience
86 · Top 9%
vs83 · Top 14%
Housing affordability
67 · Bottom 14%
vs79 · Bottom 28%
Access
98 · Top 7%
vs99 · Top 7%
Economic stability
93 · Top 4%
vs77 · Top 24%
Measured values
| Metric | Boston-Cambridge-Newton | Providence-Warwick | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,953,354 | 1,684,071 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $115,863 | $87,040 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $63,282 | $46,322 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,421/sq mi | 1,061/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $646,300 | $422,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $2,023 | $1,307 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 61.6% | 63.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.9% | 3.7% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.5% | -2.5% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 51.9% | 35.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 8.9% | 11.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 11,731 | 3,164 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.4 | 1.9 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 21.4% | 12.2% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 82°F | 84°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 20°F | 22°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 44.9" | 47.5" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 11 mi | 7 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 32.9 min | 28.7 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 39.3 | 40.7 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Boston-Cambridge-Newton
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, hurricane.
Providence-Warwick
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Boston-Cambridge-Newton
75
Your Score
73
Area Score
Providence-Warwick
72
Your Score
70
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metro Area · Providence-Warwick, RI-MA Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology