City comparison
No. Boston's crime index is 147 versus 271 in Denver, and its violent crime index is 175 versus 272, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Denver is cheaper. Median rent is $1,831 a month versus $2,147 in Boston.
Safety is where Denver and Boston split most clearly. Boston scores 124 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,831 in Denver and $2,147 in Boston.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Denver 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 crime gap is citywide. Boston has rougher pockets and Denver has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Denver and Boston are 1,765 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,831 a month in Denver to $2,147 a month in Boston, up $316 a month (17%).
Median household income goes from $94,718 in Denver to $97,344 in Boston, up $2,626 (3%).
The crime index goes from 271 in Denver to 147 in Boston, down 124 points (46%).
The move
Boston and Denver are 1,765 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,147 a month in Boston to $1,831 a month in Denver, down $316 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $97,344 in Boston to $94,718 in Denver, down $2,626 (3%).
The crime index goes from 147 in Boston to 271 in Denver, up 124 points (84%).
Denver, CO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Boston, MA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Denver and Boston? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
15% cheaper
Denver rent is 15% cheaper than Boston
Denver
Winner$1,831/mo
Boston
$2,147/mo
Typical rent runs $1,831 a month in Denver versus $2,147 in Boston, so Denver is 15% 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 $3,792, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Denver 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 Denver? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
3% higher
Boston's median income is 3% higher than Denver
Denver
$94,718
Boston
Winner$97,344
Median household income is $97,344 in Boston versus $94,718 in Denver, so typical pay runs 3% higher in Boston (about $2,626 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
46% lower crime
Boston's crime index is 46% lower than Denver
Denver
271 (100 = avg)
Boston
Winner147 (100 = avg)
Boston's crime index is 147 versus 271 in Denver (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 46% 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. Denver can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
19% more comfortable
Denver weather is 19% more comfortable than Boston
Denver
Winner60°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 86/100
Boston
55°F avg · 61°F highs · comfort 72/100
Denver averages about 60°F (70°F highs); Boston averages about 55°F (61°F highs). Denver averages around 60°F. Boston averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Denver scores 19% 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
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Denver is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 15% cheaper here at about $1,831 a month. Choose Denver if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Denver if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (60°F) beat Boston on this page's weather index by 19%. Boston may pay more or cost less, but Denver is the city where the forecast fights you less.
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 3% 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 46% lower than Denver (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.
Bottom line
Crime and safety tilt toward Boston: Boston scores 48/100 versus 30/100 in Denver, with typical rent at $2,147 versus $1,831. I would vet the exact ZIP in Denver before trading 18 safety points for housing savings.
Boston still pays more locally ($97,344 median income vs $94,718), which can offset the lease if your field pays Boston rates.
Weather averages land near 60°F in Denver and 55°F in Boston.
If safety drives your move, Boston is the stronger match (48/100 safety versus 30/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Denver, treat $1,831/month rent and $94,718 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Denver and Boston, plus other cities in CO and MA.
