City comparison
No. Anaheim's crime index is 143 versus 147 in Boston, and its violent crime index is 165 versus 175, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Boston is cheaper. Median rent is $2,147 a month versus $2,175 in Anaheim.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Boston and Anaheim. Boston averages 50°F while Anaheim averages 76°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $2,147 versus $2,175.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Boston is the easier city on typical rent, but Anaheim can still be the better daily fit depending on schools, safety, and climate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
Weather is the one thing you cannot negotiate with. Visit Boston in its coldest stretch before you sign anything.
The move
Boston and Anaheim are 2,581 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,147 a month in Boston to $2,175 a month in Anaheim, up $28 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $97,344 in Boston to $95,227 in Anaheim, down $2,117 (2%).
The crime index goes from 147 in Boston to 143 in Anaheim, down 4 points (3%).
The move
Anaheim and Boston are 2,581 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,175 a month in Anaheim to $2,147 a month in Boston, down $28 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $95,227 in Anaheim to $97,344 in Boston, up $2,117 (2%).
The crime index goes from 143 in Anaheim to 147 in Boston, up 4 points (3%).
Boston, MA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Anaheim, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Boston and Anaheim? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
1% cheaper
Boston rent is 1% cheaper than Anaheim
Boston
Winner$2,147/mo
Anaheim
$2,175/mo
Typical rent runs $2,147 a month in Boston versus $2,175 in Anaheim, so Boston is 1% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $28, or $336 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Boston? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
2% higher
Boston's median income is 2% higher than Anaheim
Boston
Winner$97,344
Anaheim
$95,227
Median household income is $97,344 in Boston versus $95,227 in Anaheim, so typical pay runs 2% higher in Boston (about $2,117 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
3% lower crime
Anaheim's crime index is 3% lower than Boston
Boston
147 (100 = avg)
Anaheim
Winner143 (100 = avg)
Anaheim's crime index is 143 versus 147 in Boston (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 3% lower in Anaheim. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Anaheim, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Boston. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
72% more comfortable
Anaheim weather is 72% more comfortable than Boston
Boston
50°F avg · 56°F highs · comfort 58/100
Anaheim
Winner76°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Boston averages about 50°F (56°F highs); Anaheim averages about 76°F (83°F highs). Boston averages around 50°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Anaheim sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Anaheim scores 72% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Boston if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Boston is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 1% cheaper here at about $2,147 a month. Choose Boston if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Boston is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 2% higher here ($97,344). Start with Boston if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Pick Anaheim if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (76°F) beat Boston on this page's weather index by 72%. Boston may pay more or cost less, but Anaheim is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Anaheim is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 3% lower than Boston (143 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
Weather separates these metros: $2,175/month rent in Anaheim at 76°F versus $2,147 in Boston at 50°F. Income runs $95,227 vs $97,344, but the daily feel of the move is the temperature gap.
With only $28 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Median income is $97,344 in Boston versus $95,227 in Anaheim.
Most movers who prioritize climate land in Anaheim; Boston only makes sense when 50°F matches how you want to live year-round.
Common questions
Ready to move to Boston?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Boston when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Boston and Anaheim, plus other cities in MA and CA.
