Boston, MA vs Gainesville, FL
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
Gainesville
68
#1355 nationally
Boston leads in walk score (83 vs 37). Boston leads in median household income ($81,744 vs $43,783). Gainesville leads in average commute (18.8 min vs 30.2 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Boston, MA | Gainesville, FL |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 66.2 (#1568) | 68 (#1355) |
| Population | 684,379 | 145,812 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $787,763 | $298,659 |
| Median Household Income | $81,744 | $43,783 |
| Average Commute | 30.2 min | 18.8 min |
| Walk Score | 83 | 37 |
| Crime Level | Moderate | 20.2 |
| School Rating | 7.2 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 155 | 104 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+52.5 | D+21.0 |
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 →
D+
68 Score
Gainesville, FL
Mid-size Florida city with community character
Median Home
$298,659
Population
145,812
Crime
High
Walk Score
37
Southeast
View Gainesville, FL →