Boston, MA vs Raleigh, NC
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Nov 2026
Report card
| Category | BostonBoston, MA | RaleighRaleigh, NC | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | Same | ||
| Affluence | Good | Average | |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | Elevated | Elevated | Same |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Average | Great | |
| Sovereignty | Self-Reliant | Self-Reliant | |
| Strategic | High Risk | Vulnerable |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
At 36, Boston, MA has a lower air quality index than Raleigh, NC, whose AQI of 46 places it in the 68th percentile compared to Boston’s 18th percentile, according to 2023 Census figures and 2024 EPA data. Job growth over the past year moved in opposite directions, with Boston adding 0.4% (the 32nd percentile) while Raleigh grew 2.1% (the 78th percentile), a difference of 1.7 percentage points. Unemployment rates also diverge: Boston’s 3.9% sits in the 62nd percentile, 0.7 points higher than Raleigh’s 3.2% in the 29th percentile. The summer dew point in Raleigh is 68°F, 7°F higher than Boston’s 61°F, with the former in the 82nd percentile and the latter in the 40th.
Geographic differences are substantial. Boston sits directly on the coastline (0 miles), while Raleigh is 117 miles inland, placing it in the 31st percentile for coastline distance. Boston is 190 miles from an international border (the 21st percentile), compared to Raleigh’s 493 miles in the 68th percentile. State and local tax burden is higher in Boston at 11.5% (the 75th percentile) versus Raleigh’s 9.9% (the 48th percentile), a gap of 1.6 percentage points. Violent crime per 100,000 people is 573 in Boston (the 89th percentile) and 391 in Raleigh (the 77th percentile), meaning Boston’s rate is 46% higher. However, property crime per 100,000 is 1,870 in Boston (the 73rd percentile) and 2,296 in Raleigh (the 83rd percentile), making Raleigh’s rate 23% higher.
AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them. Generated Nov 2026.
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Where they differ most
Cost of living
| Metric | Boston, MA | Raleigh, NC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 20992nd pctl | 12967th pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Boston, MA 209; Raleigh, NC 129; Boston is 62% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $710,40091st pctl | $377,80069th pctl | Median home value: Boston, MA $710,400; Raleigh, NC $377,800; Boston is 88% higher. |
| Median rent | $2,09393rd pctl | $1,46869th pctl | Median rent: Boston, MA $2,093; Raleigh, NC $1,468; Boston is 43% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $94,75574th pctl | $82,42462nd pctl | Median household income: Boston, MA $94,755; Raleigh, NC $82,424; Boston is 15% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $138,01894th pctl | $73,40070th pctl | Comfortable income (single): Boston, MA $138,018; Raleigh, NC $73,400; Boston is 88% higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $202,88794th pctl | $107,89870th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Boston, MA $202,887; Raleigh, NC $107,898; Boston is 88% higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Unaffordable | Stretched | Housing affordability: Boston, MA D; Raleigh, NC B-; Raleigh is graded higher. |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Raleigh needs about
$46,300
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 209 vs 129). Leaves out taxes, groceries and transport. How it works →
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
Jobs & income
| Metric | Boston, MA | Raleigh, NC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 3.9%62nd pctl | 3.2%28th pctl | Unemployment: Boston, MA 3.9%; Raleigh, NC 3.2%; Boston is 0.7 points higher. |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | +0.4%32nd pctl | +2.1%78th pctl | Job growth (YoY): Boston, MA +0.4%; Raleigh, NC +2.1%; Raleigh is 1.7 points higher. |
| Per-capita income | $60,00187th pctl | $49,94878th pctl | Per-capita income: Boston, MA $60,001; Raleigh, NC $49,948; Boston is 20% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 16.9%73rd pctl | 11.4%49th pctl | Poverty rate: Boston, MA 16.9%; Raleigh, NC 11.4%; Boston is 5.5 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 30.2 min87th pctl | 25.1 min62nd pctl | Average commute: Boston, MA 30.2 min; Raleigh, NC 25.1 min; Boston is 5 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 18.8%80th pctl | 14.5%68th pctl | Work from home: Boston, MA 18.8%; Raleigh, NC 14.5%; Boston is 4.3 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Stable | Stable | About the same |
| Job market | Strong | Strong | Job market: Boston, MA B+; Raleigh, NC A+; Raleigh is graded higher. |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Boston, MA | Raleigh, NC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 57389th pctl | 39177th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Boston, MA 573; Raleigh, NC 391; Boston is 46% higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 1,87073rd pctl | 2,29684th pctl | Property crime per 100k: Boston, MA 1,870; Raleigh, NC 2,296; Raleigh is 23% higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Flat | Falling | |
| Crime & safety | Fair | Fair | About the same |
| Traffic safety | Very SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Very SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Boston, MA | Raleigh, NC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| ClimateClimate comfort | Comfortable | Humid | Climate comfort: Boston, MA B+; Raleigh, NC C-; Boston is graded higher. |
| HealthcareHealthcare access | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| Tap water | Clean | Clean | About the same |
| Power grid | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | Power grid: Boston, MA A+; Raleigh, NC A-; Boston is graded higher. |
| HomesteadingHomesteading potential | Prime | Prime | About the same |
| Disaster riskNational disaster risk | High-Risk | High-Risk | About the same |
3 rows not shown: broadband, walkability and local food access aren't available for either place.
Data: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
Taxes & laws
| Metric | Boston, MA | Raleigh, NC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxes | ModerateState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ModerateState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | Taxes: Boston, MA C-; Raleigh, NC B-; Raleigh is graded higher. |
| HomeschoolHomeschool rules | moderateState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | highState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| FirearmsFirearm laws grade | FState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | AState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| Property rightsProperty rights (eminent domain) | FState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | C-State figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| EnergyEnergy production | ImporterState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ImporterState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. |
Data: Tax Foundation, state statutes.
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | Boston, MA | Raleigh, NC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 0 mi1st pctl | 4 mi3rd pctl | Nearest large city: Boston, MA 0 mi; Raleigh, NC 4 mi; Raleigh is 12.0 times higher. |
| Target proximity | Poor | Weak | Target proximity: Boston, MA F; Raleigh, NC D+; Raleigh is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 190 mi21st pctl | 493 mi68th pctl | Distance to international border: Boston, MA 190 mi; Raleigh, NC 493 mi; Raleigh is 2.6 times higher. |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 0 mi0th pctl | 117 mi31st pctl | Distance to coastline: Boston, MA 0 mi; Raleigh, NC 117 mi; Raleigh is 117 mi higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | High Risk | Vulnerable | Strategic location: Boston, MA F; Raleigh, NC D; Raleigh is graded higher. |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Boston, MA | Raleigh, NC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 663,97299th pctl | 470,76398th pctl | Population: Boston, MA 663,972; Raleigh, NC 470,763; Boston is 41% larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 13,73599th pctl | 3,07179th pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Boston, MA 13,735; Raleigh, NC 3,071; Boston is 4.5 times higher. |
| Median age | 33.216th pctl | 34.723rd pctl | Median age: Boston, MA 33.2; Raleigh, NC 34.7; Raleigh is 1.5 years older. |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 54.1%84th pctl | 52.9%83rd pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Boston, MA 54.1%; Raleigh, NC 52.9%; Boston is 1.2 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.221st pctl | 2.331st pctl | About the same |
More about Boston's residents · Raleigh's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
Moving between Boston and Raleigh
- Median rent: $2,093 in Boston, $1,468 in Raleigh
- Median home value: $710,400 in Boston, $377,800 in Raleigh
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 209 in Boston, 129 in Raleigh
- Median household income: $94,755 in Boston, $82,424 in Raleigh
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $202,887 in Boston, $107,898 in Raleigh
- Unemployment: 3.9% in Boston, 3.2% in Raleigh
- Average commute: 30.2 min in Boston, 25.1 min in Raleigh
- Violent crime per 100k: 573 in Boston, 391 in Raleigh
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More places like Boston and Raleigh
- Data: Cost of living: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
- Data: Jobs & income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
- Data: Safety: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
- Data: Quality of life: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
- Data: Taxes & laws: Tax Foundation, state statutes.
- Data: Strategic location: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
- Data: People: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area.
Narrative content on this page is AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them.
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