Boston or San Antonio: which is better?
US metro area: head-to-head comparison
Boston wins on more indicators: 6 of 11 against 5.
- Money: San Antonio 1:3
- Climate and risks: Boston 5:2
All indicators weigh the same. This is a score based on data, not advice on where to live: different people have different circumstances.
Boston
Indicator
San Antonio
Money
Better: San Antonio (1 : 3)Per capita income
higher is better
✓$104,104
202465% higher
✗$63,226
202439% lower
Typical rent
lower is better
✗$2,987
2026-09-30111% higher
✓$1,415
2026-09-3053% lower
Typical home value
lower is better
✗$725,639
2026-09-30165% higher
✓$273,806
2026-09-3062% lower
Price level
lower is better
✗108.3 100 = US average
202414% higher
✓94.7 100 = US average
202413% lower
Climate and risks
Better: Boston (5 : 2)Air: median AQI
lower is better
✓43 AQI
202419% lower
✗53 AQI
202423% higher
Days with unhealthy air
lower is better
✓5 days per year
202477% lower
✗22 days per year
2024340% higher
Hot days (max ≥ +30 °C)
lower is better
✓33 days per year
2016-202581% lower
✗171 days per year
2016-2025414% higher
Frost days (min ≤ −10 °C)
lower is better
✗7 days per year
2016-20252200% higher
✓0 days per year
2016-202596% lower
Severe frost (min ≤ −20 °C)
lower is better
✗0.3 days per year
2016-2025
✓0.0 days per year
2016-2025
Ice days (max ≤ 0 °C)
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
16 days per year
2016-2025
1 days per year
2016-2025
Heating degree days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
2,783 °C·days per year
2016-2025
640 °C·days per year
2016-2025
Cooling degree days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
566 °C·days per year
2016-2025
2,092 °C·days per year
2016-2025
Rainy days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
103 days per year
2016-2025
56 days per year
2016-2025
Snowfall days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
8 days per year
2016-2025
0 days per year
2016-2025
Annual precipitation
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
1,102 mm per year
2016-2025
692 mm per year
2016-2025
Daylight on December 21
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
9.1 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
10.3 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
Daylight on June 21
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
15.3 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
14.0 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
Air humidity
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
66 %
2021-2025
64 %
2021-2025
Muggy days (dew point ≥ +20 °C)
lower is better
✓20 days per year
2021-202585% lower
✗130 days per year
2021-2025561% higher
Distance to the sea
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
3 km
2006-2025
192 km
2006-2025
Earthquakes M4.5+ within 100 km
lower is better
✓0.00 per year
2006-2025
✗0.15 per year
2006-2025
Strongest earthquake in the period
no data for one of the places
no data
4.8 magnitude
2006-2025
Urban environment
no winnerPopulation
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
5,025,517 people
2024
2,763,006 people
2024
A winner is named only for indicators with a known “better / worse” direction. Population and other neutral indicators are shown without a winner. Outdated and missing values are not counted. Details for each place: Boston, San Antonio.