Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allen, TX
VS
Cambridge, MA
🏆 Allen leads 14 of 23 categories
Allen
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$121,259
Violent Crime Index
28 ✓ Safer
Population
105,444
Cambridge
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$121,539 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High
Population
117,962 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $607k less ($390,200 vs $997,600)
76% less violent crime than Cambridge
Rent averages $881/mo less ($1,747 vs $2,628)
Violent crime is well below the national average (106.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 37°F
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Cambridge
Cons
Higher unemployment (4.3% vs 3.3%)
Cambridge, MA
Pros
More college-educated — 79.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 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
Property crime (2644.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Key Differences at a Glance
Allen
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Allen
Violent Crime
76% lower
106.4 vs 436.7 per 100k
Allen
Median Home Value
$607k less
$390,200 vs $997,600
Allen
Summer Heat
10.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 84.7°F
Cambridge
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
3.3% vs 4.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allen, TX | Cambridge, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $390,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $997,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,747⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,628⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,259 | $121,539 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 26.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.4% | 25.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 28 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (125) | A+ (135) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | 9.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.2% | 79.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.8% ✓ Higher | 95.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALLEN ISD | Cambridge |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.5°F ✓ Warmer | 37.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer | 84.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" ✓ Drier | 49.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" ✓ Less | 49.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,444 | 117,962 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.8 ✓ Older | 30.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.9% ✓ Higher | 33.6% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 12.2% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 11.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allen's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Cambridge's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Allen is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Allen leads 14 of 23 categories. Allen wins 14 and Cambridge wins 9. 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 Allen to Cambridge or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($390,200 vs $997,600 median home), income ($121,259 vs $121,539), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allen, TX and Cambridge, MA are about 1,528 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.