City comparison
Yes. Boston's crime index is 147 versus 221 in Toledo, and its violent crime index is 175 versus 279, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Toledo is cheaper. Median rent is $934 a month versus $2,147 in Boston.
The cost gap between Boston and Toledo is the real story here. Toledo comes in 56% cheaper on typical rent ($2,147 vs $934), which over a year adds up to $14,556. Median household income runs $97,344 in Boston and $62,224 in Toledo.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Toledo 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. Toledo at $934 average has pockets that run $734 and others at $1,334: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Boston and Toledo are 643 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,147 a month in Boston to $934 a month in Toledo, down $1,213 a month (56%).
Median household income goes from $97,344 in Boston to $62,224 in Toledo, down $35,120 (36%).
The crime index goes from 147 in Boston to 221 in Toledo, up 74 points (50%).
The move
Toledo and Boston are 643 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $934 a month in Toledo to $2,147 a month in Boston, up $1,213 a month (130%).
Median household income goes from $62,224 in Toledo to $97,344 in Boston, up $35,120 (56%).
The crime index goes from 221 in Toledo to 147 in Boston, down 74 points (33%).
Boston, MA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Toledo, OH
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Boston and Toledo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
56% cheaper
Toledo rent is 56% cheaper than Boston
Boston
$2,147/mo
Toledo
Winner$934/mo
Typical rent runs $934 a month in Toledo versus $2,147 in Boston, so Toledo is 56% cheaper. That's roughly $1,213/month back in your pocket ($14,556/year). Over five years that's $72,780 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Boston, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Toledo is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Toledo? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
56% higher
Boston's median income is 56% higher than Toledo
Boston
Winner$97,344
Toledo
$62,224
Median household income is $97,344 in Boston versus $62,224 in Toledo, so typical pay runs 56% higher in Boston (about $35,120 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. Toledo can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
33% lower crime
Boston's crime index is 33% lower than Toledo
Boston
Winner147 (100 = avg)
Toledo
221 (100 = avg)
Boston's crime index is 147 versus 221 in Toledo (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 33% 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. Toledo can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
5% more comfortable
Toledo weather is 5% more comfortable than Boston
Boston
50°F avg · 56°F highs · comfort 58/100
Toledo
Winner51°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 61/100
Boston averages about 50°F (56°F highs); Toledo averages about 51°F (58°F highs). Boston averages around 50°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Toledo averages around 51°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Toledo scores 5% 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 56% 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 33% lower than Toledo (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
Toledo is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 56% cheaper here at about $934 a month. Choose Toledo if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Toledo if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (51°F) beat Boston on this page's weather index by 5%. Boston may pay more or cost less, but Toledo is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
Rent is the clearest fork: Toledo at $934/month versus $2,147 in Boston ($1,213 apart). Boston median income is $97,344 against $62,224 in Toledo, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
Toledo rent at $934/month is still below Boston's $2,147, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 48/100 in Boston and 36/100 in Toledo.
Pick Toledo when shaving $1,213 off rent at $934/month is the priority. Otherwise, Boston's case rests on $2,147/month rent with $97,344 local income.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Boston and Toledo, plus other cities in MA and OH.
