Boston, MA vs Sunnyvale, 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
Sunnyvale
66.4
#1551 nationally
Sunnyvale leads in median household income ($168,924 vs $81,744). Boston leads in walk score (83 vs 54). Boston leads in cost of living index (155 vs 205).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Boston, MA | Sunnyvale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 66.2 (#1568) | 66.4 (#1551) |
| Population | 684,379 | 155,805 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $787,763 | $2,050,814 |
| Median Household Income | $81,744 | $168,924 |
| Average Commute | 30.2 min | 25.6 min |
| Walk Score | 83 | 54 |
| Crime Level | Moderate | Low |
| School Rating | 7.2 | 8.6 |
| Cost of Living Index | 155 | 205 |
| 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
66.4 Score
Sunnyvale, CA
Heart of tech innovation
Median Home
$2,050,814
Population
155,805
Crime
Low
Schools
A
Pacific
View Sunnyvale, CA →