Boston receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Boston
Washington
Opportunity
68 · Top 22%
vs41 · Bottom 16%
Growth
47 · Bottom 37%
vs48 · Bottom 41%
Climate
65 · Bottom 34%
vs72 · Top 43%
Physical resilience
97 · Top 1%
vs97 · Top 1%
Housing affordability
44 · Bottom 9%
vs60 · Bottom 37%
Access
99 · Top 22%
vs89 · Bottom 15%
Economic stability
55 · Top 49%
vs56 · Top 44%
Measured values
| Metric | Boston | Washington | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 666,442 | 681,294 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $97,344 | $109,870 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $61,698 | $77,348 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 13,786/sq mi | 11,146/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $731,700 | $737,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $2,147 | $1,954 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 35.7% | 41.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.2% | 5.9% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.5% | -1.8% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 54.9% | 64.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 16.6% | 15.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 2,086 | 2,235 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 3.1 | 3.3 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 21.2% | 37.1% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 82°F | 90°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 23°F | 30°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 43.6" | 41.8" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 2 mi | 24 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 33.1 min | 32.3 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 33.3 | 34.9 | 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
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Washington
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Boston
68
Your Score
69
Area Score
Washington
66
Your Score
65
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Boston, MA · Washington, DC · How this is calculated: methodology