City comparison
Yes. Boston's crime index is 147 versus 197 in Atlanta, and its violent crime index is 175 versus 193, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Atlanta is cheaper. Median rent is $1,711 a month versus $2,147 in Boston.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Boston and Atlanta. Boston averages 50°F while Atlanta averages 61°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $2,147 versus $1,711.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Atlanta costs less and Boston pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Atlanta at $1,711 average has pockets that run $1,511 and others at $2,111: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Boston and Atlanta are 936 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,147 a month in Boston to $1,711 a month in Atlanta, down $436 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $97,344 in Boston to $85,652 in Atlanta, down $11,692 (12%).
The crime index goes from 147 in Boston to 197 in Atlanta, up 50 points (34%).
The move
Atlanta and Boston are 936 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,711 a month in Atlanta to $2,147 a month in Boston, up $436 a month (25%).
Median household income goes from $85,652 in Atlanta to $97,344 in Boston, up $11,692 (14%).
The crime index goes from 197 in Atlanta to 147 in Boston, down 50 points (25%).
Boston, MA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Atlanta, GA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Boston and Atlanta? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
20% cheaper
Atlanta rent is 20% cheaper than Boston
Boston
$2,147/mo
Atlanta
Winner$1,711/mo
Typical rent runs $1,711 a month in Atlanta versus $2,147 in Boston, so Atlanta is 20% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $5,232, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Atlanta still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Boston.
Planning to buy in Atlanta? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
14% higher
Boston's median income is 14% higher than Atlanta
Boston
Winner$97,344
Atlanta
$85,652
Median household income is $97,344 in Boston versus $85,652 in Atlanta, so typical pay runs 14% higher in Boston (about $11,692 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Boston is the stronger labor market on paper. Atlanta can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
25% lower crime
Boston's crime index is 25% lower than Atlanta
Boston
Winner147 (100 = avg)
Atlanta
197 (100 = avg)
Boston's crime index is 147 versus 197 in Atlanta (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 25% lower in Boston. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Boston is the easier city. Atlanta can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
53% more comfortable
Atlanta weather is 53% more comfortable than Boston
Boston
50°F avg · 56°F highs · comfort 58/100
Atlanta
Winner61°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 89/100
Boston averages about 50°F (56°F highs); Atlanta averages about 61°F (70°F highs). Boston averages around 50°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Atlanta averages around 61°F. Atlanta scores 53% 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 better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 14% higher here ($97,344). Start with Boston if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Boston is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 25% lower than Atlanta (147 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.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Atlanta is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 20% cheaper here at about $1,711 a month. Choose Atlanta if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Atlanta if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (61°F) beat Boston on this page's weather index by 53%. Boston may pay more or cost less, but Atlanta is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
Weather separates these metros: $1,711/month rent in Atlanta at 61°F versus $2,147 in Boston at 50°F. Income runs $85,652 vs $97,344, but the daily feel of the move is the temperature gap.
Boston still pays more locally ($97,344 median income vs $85,652), which can offset the lease if your field pays Boston rates.
Safety scores read 48/100 in Boston and 39/100 in Atlanta.
Most movers who prioritize climate land in Atlanta; Boston only makes sense when 50°F matches how you want to live year-round.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Atlanta when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Boston and Atlanta, plus other cities in MA and GA.
