Boston, MA vs Ridgewood, NJ
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
Ridgewood
68
#1362 nationally
Ridgewood leads in median household income ($211,224 vs $81,744). Boston leads in walk score (83 vs 42). Boston leads in average commute (30.2 min vs 36.3 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Boston, MA | Ridgewood, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 66.2 (#1568) | 68 (#1362) |
| Population | 684,379 | 26,194 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $787,763 | $1,273,036 |
| Median Household Income | $81,744 | $211,224 |
| Average Commute | 30.2 min | 36.3 min |
| Walk Score | 83 | 42 |
| Crime Level | Moderate | 1.2 |
| School Rating | 7.2 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 155 | 181 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+52.5 | D+3.4 |
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 →
D+
68 Score
Ridgewood, NJ
Small New Jersey city with local appeal
Median Home
$1,273,036
Population
26,194
Crime
Very Low
Walk Score
42
Northeast
View Ridgewood, NJ →