Boston, MA vs Imperial, 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
Imperial
71.3
#996 nationally
Imperial leads in average commute (18.1 min vs 30.2 min). Imperial leads in cost of living index (118 vs 155). Imperial leads in median household income ($83,029 vs $81,744).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Boston, MA | Imperial, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 66.2 (#1568) | 71.3 (#996) |
| Population | 684,379 | 21,591 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $787,763 | $445,376 |
| Median Household Income | $81,744 | $83,029 |
| Average Commute | 30.2 min | 18.1 min |
| Walk Score | 83 | N/A |
| Crime Level | Moderate | 2.1 |
| School Rating | 7.2 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 155 | 118 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+52.5 | R+0.9 |
Data coverage note: Imperial is missing data for 1 metric that Boston has. Scores with less coverage are penalized — see our methodology.
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-
71.3 Score
Imperial, CA
Small California city with local appeal
Median Home
$445,376
Population
21,591
Crime
Low
Median Income
$83,029
Pacific
View Imperial, CA →