Boston, MA vs Oswego, 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
Oswego
75.2
#488 nationally
Boston leads in walk score (83 vs 24). Oswego leads in cost of living index (112 vs 155). Oswego leads in median household income ($112,109 vs $81,744).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Boston, MA | Oswego, IL |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 66.2 (#1568) | 75.2 (#488) |
| Population | 684,379 | 37,074 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $787,763 | $426,221 |
| Median Household Income | $81,744 | $112,109 |
| Average Commute | 30.2 min | 31.1 min |
| Walk Score | 83 | 24 |
| Crime Level | Moderate | 0.9 |
| School Rating | 7.2 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 155 | 112 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+52.5 | D+1.5 |
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
75.2 Score
Oswego, IL
Small Illinois city with local appeal
Median Home
$426,221
Population
37,074
Crime
Very Low
Walk Score
24
Midwest
View Oswego, IL →