City comparison
No. Boston's crime index is 147 versus 223 in Washington, and its violent crime index is 175 versus 243, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Washington is cheaper. Median rent is $1,954 a month versus $2,147 in Boston.
Safety is where Washington and Boston split most clearly. Boston scores 76 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,954 in Washington and $2,147 in Boston.
Washington is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Boston makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Washington is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Boston has rougher pockets and Washington has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Washington and Boston are 394 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,954 a month in Washington to $2,147 a month in Boston, up $193 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $109,870 in Washington to $97,344 in Boston, down $12,526 (11%).
The crime index goes from 223 in Washington to 147 in Boston, down 76 points (34%).
The move
Boston and Washington are 394 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,147 a month in Boston to $1,954 a month in Washington, down $193 a month (9%).
Median household income goes from $97,344 in Boston to $109,870 in Washington, up $12,526 (13%).
The crime index goes from 147 in Boston to 223 in Washington, up 76 points (52%).
Washington, DC
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 Washington and Boston? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
9% cheaper
Washington rent is 9% cheaper than Boston
Washington
Winner$1,954/mo
Boston
$2,147/mo
Typical rent runs $1,954 a month in Washington versus $2,147 in Boston, so Washington is 9% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $193, or $2,316 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 Washington? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
13% higher
Washington's median income is 13% higher than Boston
Washington
Winner$109,870
Boston
$97,344
Median household income is $109,870 in Washington versus $97,344 in Boston, so typical pay runs 13% higher in Washington (about $12,526 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, Washington 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
34% lower crime
Boston's crime index is 34% lower than Washington
Washington
223 (100 = avg)
Boston
Winner147 (100 = avg)
Boston's crime index is 147 versus 223 in Washington (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 34% 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. Washington can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
29% more comfortable
Washington weather is 29% more comfortable than Boston
Washington
Winner56°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 75/100
Boston
50°F avg · 56°F highs · comfort 58/100
Washington averages about 56°F (63°F highs); Boston averages about 50°F (56°F highs). Washington averages around 56°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Boston averages around 50°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Washington scores 29% 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 plus year-round outdoor access
Washington is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 9% cheaper here at about $1,954 a month. Choose Washington if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 13% higher ($109,870), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 56°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Boston is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 34% lower than Washington (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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Boston leads on safety (48/100 vs 36/100 in Washington). Typical rent is $2,147 in Boston and $1,954 in Washington; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Safety still diverges (48/100 in Boston vs 36/100 in Washington), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $109,870 in Washington versus $97,344 in Boston.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Boston; Washington only makes sense when you have walked the Washington ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,954 rent.
Common questions
Ready to move to Washington?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Washington when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Washington and Boston, plus other cities in DC and MA.
