Boston, MA vs El Centro, CA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Boston
66.2
#1568 nationally
El Centro
70
#1141 nationally
Boston leads in walk score (83 vs 51). Boston leads in median household income ($81,744 vs $54,922). El Centro leads in average commute (21.6 min vs 30.2 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Boston, MA | El Centro, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 66.2 (#1568) | 70 (#1141) |
| Population | 684,379 | 43,772 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $787,763 | $396,150 |
| Median Household Income | $81,744 | $54,922 |
| Average Commute | 30.2 min | 21.6 min |
| Walk Score | 83 | 51 |
| Crime Level | Moderate | 9.0 |
| School Rating | 7.2 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 155 | 111 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+52.5 | R+0.9 |
D
66.2 Score
Boston, MA
Innovation hub with historic charm
Median Home
$787,763
Population
684,379
Crime
Moderate
Schools
B
Northeast
View Boston, MA →
C-
70 Score
El Centro, CA
Small California city with local appeal
Median Home
$396,150
Population
43,772
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
51
Pacific
View El Centro, CA →