Boston, MA vs St. Charles, IL
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
St. Charles
73.3
#762 nationally
Boston leads in walk score (83 vs 37). St. Charles leads in median household income ($110,346 vs $81,744). St. Charles leads in cost of living index (118 vs 155).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Boston, MA | St. Charles, IL |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 66.2 (#1568) | 73.3 (#762) |
| Population | 684,379 | 32,654 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $787,763 | $482,151 |
| Median Household Income | $81,744 | $110,346 |
| Average Commute | 30.2 min | 28.4 min |
| Walk Score | 83 | 37 |
| Crime Level | Moderate | 2.5 |
| 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 | D+9.4 |
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
73.3 Score
St. Charles, IL
Small Illinois city with local appeal
Median Home
$482,151
Population
32,654
Crime
Low
Walk Score
37
Midwest
View St. Charles, IL →
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