Boston vs Seattle

Boston leads Seattle by 2 points on the TRAIL Index, 75 to 73. Boston grades better on 5 measures, Seattle on 3; the same 37 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• TRAIL Index: Boston 75, Seattle 73
• OECD: Boston 76, Seattle 69
• UN Tourism: Boston 74, Seattle 71
• UNDRR: Boston 65, Seattle 65

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: Boston 85, Seattle 58
• Economy and jobs: Boston 100, Seattle 92
• Climate and hazards: Boston 65, Seattle 65
• Water and environment: Boston 56, Seattle 63
• Community and housing: Boston 63, Seattle 63
• Access and continuity: Boston 83, Seattle 79

Where Boston is stronger

• Largest foreign market: 22.8 % of international arrivals or nights (Stay In Boston / Meet Boston (Tourism Economics), 2024). Between 20 and 30: grade 2/4.
• Hotel bed or room occupancy: 77.3 % average annual occupancy (metro figure) (Meet Boston, Hotel Statistics (Pinnacle Advisory Group), 2025). At or above 75: grade 4/4.
• Economic diversity: 81.6 % of employment outside accommodation, food, retail and transport (metro figure) (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Boston Area Employment — June 2025, June 2025). At or above 80: grade 4/4.
• Wildfire and storm hazard: medium (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 2/4.
• Dedicated tourism funding: A dedicated source plus a reserve or stabilisation fund for downturns (Commonwealth of Massachusetts / Meet Boston, Tourism & Hospitality Rapid Recovery Plan, 2022–2026). Grade 4/4.

Where Seattle is stronger

• Tropical nights: 0.4 nights a year with a minimum at or above 20°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). At or below 10: grade 4/4.
• Wastewater safely treated: 98.1 % of domestic wastewater safely treated (country figure) (World Economic Forum, TTDI 2026 (data: SDG Indicators Database by United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs), 2024). At or above 95: grade 4/4.
• Early warning and emergency plan: An updated, tested plan that names visitors and tourism operators, with warnings in several languages (City of Seattle Office of Emergency Management, Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP) & AlertSeattle, 2021–2025). Grade 4/4.

Country context (World Economic Forum)

• United States: #2 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
• United States: #2 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026

Boston in full · Seattle in full

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