City comparison
No. Boston's crime index is 147 versus 252 in Seattle, and its violent crime index is 175 versus 216, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Seattle is cheaper. Median rent is $2,030 a month versus $2,147 in Boston.
Safety is where Seattle and Boston split most clearly. Boston scores 105 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $2,030 in Seattle and $2,147 in Boston.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Seattle is the easier city on typical rent, but Boston can still be the better daily fit depending on schools, safety, and climate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The crime gap is citywide. Boston has rougher pockets and Seattle has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Seattle and Boston are 2,486 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,030 a month in Seattle to $2,147 a month in Boston, up $117 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $123,860 in Seattle to $97,344 in Boston, down $26,516 (21%).
The crime index goes from 252 in Seattle to 147 in Boston, down 105 points (42%).
The move
Boston and Seattle are 2,486 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,147 a month in Boston to $2,030 a month in Seattle, down $117 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $97,344 in Boston to $123,860 in Seattle, up $26,516 (27%).
The crime index goes from 147 in Boston to 252 in Seattle, up 105 points (71%).
Seattle, WA
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 Seattle and Boston? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
5% cheaper
Seattle rent is 5% cheaper than Boston
Seattle
Winner$2,030/mo
Boston
$2,147/mo
Typical rent runs $2,030 a month in Seattle versus $2,147 in Boston, so Seattle is 5% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $117, or $1,404 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 Seattle? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
27% higher
Seattle's median income is 27% higher than Boston
Seattle
Winner$123,860
Boston
$97,344
Median household income is $123,860 in Seattle versus $97,344 in Boston, so typical pay runs 27% higher in Seattle (about $26,516 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, Seattle is the stronger labor market on paper. Boston can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
42% lower crime
Boston's crime index is 42% lower than Seattle
Seattle
252 (100 = avg)
Boston
Winner147 (100 = avg)
Boston's crime index is 147 versus 252 in Seattle (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 42% 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. Seattle can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
9% more comfortable
Boston weather is 9% more comfortable than Seattle
Seattle
53°F avg · 60°F highs · comfort 66/100
Boston
Winner55°F avg · 61°F highs · comfort 72/100
Seattle averages about 53°F (60°F highs); Boston averages about 55°F (61°F highs). Seattle averages around 53°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Boston averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Boston scores 9% 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 Seattle 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
Seattle is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 5% cheaper here at about $2,030 a month. Choose Seattle if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Seattle is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 27% higher here ($123,860). Start with Seattle 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 Boston if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (55°F) beat Seattle on this page's weather index by 9%. Seattle may pay more or cost less, but Boston is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Boston is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 42% lower than Seattle (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
Seattle rent is $2,030/month versus $2,147 in Boston ($117 lower), but Seattle median income runs $123,860 against $97,344 in Boston. That pay gap is why Seattle feels affordable to tech transplants while Boston feels tight to renters on local wages.
Safety tilts toward Boston at 48/100 versus Seattle's 32/100. Crime index reads 252 in Seattle and 147 in Boston on this page, so neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice.
Pick Seattle when your offer clears Seattle rent and you accept the safety gap for West Coast jobs and 53°F averages. Pick Boston when you need the stronger safety score and will budget for the higher lease.
Common questions
Ready to move to Seattle?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Seattle when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Seattle and Boston, plus other cities in WA and MA.
