Redfin Releases Report Comparing Life in Boston and Seattle

The real estate brokerage ranks each city based on factors like income, housing, education and transportation, and declares Seattle as the winner

Redfin compares what life is like in Seattle and Boston in anticipation of the big game. (Graphic: Business Wire)

SEATTLE--()--With the “big game” right around the corner, the rivalry between Boston and Seattle has already started to heat up, with fans in both cities proclaiming that their city is the best. But what is life like off of the field in these cities? Redfin (www.redfin.com), the customer-first real estate brokerage, looked at Census data, information the brokerage gets from the multiple listing services in each city and a few other sources to find out which fans have it better: Seattle or Boston. Here are the categories and scores for each city:

  • Getting More Home for Your Money: Seattle – 1, Boston – 0
  • Affording a Home in the First Place: Seattle – 1, Boston – 0
  • Getting an Education: Seattle – 1, Boston – 1
  • Getting Around: Seattle – 0, Boston – 1
  • Dating and Marriage: Seattle – 1, Boston – 1
  • Enjoying the Weather: Seattle – 1, Boston – 0
  • Boating, Cooking and Drinking Coffee: Seattle – 1, Boston – 0

Final Score: Seattle – 6, Boston – 3

The scores are based on the following data points, as well as Redfin reports published last year:

             
Seattle     Metric     Boston
629,359     Population     598,309
142.5 sq. miles     Geographical size     89.6 sq. miles
46%     Homeownership rate     34%
5,300     Median lot size of homes sold in 2014     1,317
$432,000     Median sale price of homes sold in 2014     $469,250
1,611     Median square footage of homes sold in 2014     1,107
37%     Share of 2014 sales that were condos or townhomes     82%
17.10%     Industry: Educational services, health care, social assistance     19.70%
5.10%     Unemployment rate     4.50%
$70,172     Median household income     $53,583
45%     Residents with bachelor's degree or higher     33%
7     GreatSchools rating for public schools     8.5
64     Bike Score     68
57     Transit Score     75
71     Walk Score     80
12%    

Residents aged 25-29
(the largest age group for both cities)

    13%
50% vs. 50%     Male vs. female     48% vs. 52%
36%     Married     26%
40%     Never married     53%
34.1 inches     Average annual rainfall     43.76 inches
51.95°F     Average annual temperature     51.4°F
2,019 hours     Average annual hours of sunshine     2,615 hours
6.8 inches     Average annual snowfall     44 inches
       

To read the full report, complete with a description of each category and the reasons why one city scored higher than the other, please visit the Redfin Blog at: http://blog.redfin.com/blog/2015/01/go-seahawks.html.

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About Redfin

Redfin (www.redfin.com) is a customer-first real estate brokerage that represents people buying and selling homes. Founded and run by technologists, Redfin has a team of experienced, full-service real estate agents who are advocates, not salespeople, earning customer-satisfaction bonuses, not commissions. Redfin.com features all the broker-listed homes for sale, as well as for-sale-by-owner properties that don't pay brokers a commission. Redfin also offers online tools that make the entire process of buying or selling a home easier and more fun. The company serves major markets across the U.S. and has closed nearly $20 billion in home sales. In 2012, Redfin was named one of The DIGITAL 100: World's Most Valuable Private Tech Companies by Business Insider.

Contacts

Redfin Journalist Services
Christin Camacho, 206-588-6863
press@redfin.com

Contacts

Redfin Journalist Services
Christin Camacho, 206-588-6863
press@redfin.com