Boston, MA vs Mountain View, 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
Mountain View
63.3
#1779 nationally
Mountain View leads in median household income ($174,156 vs $81,744). Boston leads in cost of living index (155 vs 285). Boston leads in walk score (83 vs 66).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Boston, MA | Mountain View, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 66.2 (#1568) | 63.3 (#1779) |
| Population | 684,379 | 81,785 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $787,763 | $1,962,774 |
| Median Household Income | $81,744 | $174,156 |
| Average Commute | 30.2 min | 24.2 min |
| Walk Score | 83 | 66 |
| Crime Level | Moderate | 8.4 |
| School Rating | 7.2 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 155 | 285 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+52.5 | D+40.0 |
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
63.3 Score
Mountain View, CA
California community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$1,962,774
Population
81,785
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
66
Pacific
View Mountain View, CA →
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