Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albuquerque, NM
VS
Cambridge, MA
🏆 Albuquerque leads 13 of 23 categories
Albuquerque
New Mexico
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,503
Violent Crime Index
311⚠ High
Population
562,551 ✓ Larger
Cambridge
Massachusetts
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$121,539 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,962
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albuquerque, NM
Pros
Homes cost $752k less ($246,000 vs $997,600)
Rent averages $1614/mo less ($1,014 vs $2,628)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Cambridge
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 37°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Cons
Median income trails Cambridge by $60,036/yr
Violent crime (1181.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 3.3%)
Cambridge, MA
Pros
Households earn $60,036 more per year on average
63% less violent crime than Albuquerque
More college-educated — 79.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (3.3%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 9.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $997,600
Higher rents — median is $2,628/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Albuquerque
Property crime (2644.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Albuquerque
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Albuquerque
Median Home Value
$752k less
$246,000 vs $997,600
Albuquerque
Summer Heat
10.2°F warmer
July avg high 94.9°F vs 84.7°F
Cambridge
Median Income
$60,036
$121,539 vs $61,503/yr
Cambridge
Violent Crime
63% lower
436.7 vs 1181.8 per 100k
Cambridge
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
3.3% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albuquerque, NM | Cambridge, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $246,000 ✓ Lower | $997,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 ✓ Lower | $2,628⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,503 | $121,539 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 26.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.0% | 25.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 311⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A+ (135) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 | 9.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.8% | 79.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% | 95.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBUQUERQUE | Cambridge |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F ✓ Warmer | 37.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F ✓ Warmer | 84.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 49.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.9" ✓ Less | 49.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 562,551 ✓ Larger | 117,962 |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 30.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% ✓ Higher | 33.6% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% ✓ More | 12.2% |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 11.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albuquerque's cost of living index is 93.0 vs Cambridge's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Albuquerque is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Albuquerque leads 13 of 23 categories. Albuquerque wins 13 and Cambridge wins 10. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Albuquerque to Cambridge or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,000 vs $997,600 median home), income ($61,503 vs $121,539), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albuquerque, NM and Cambridge, MA are about 1,964 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.