Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Anaheim, CA
VS
Cambridge, MA
🏆 Anaheim leads 12 of 23 categories
Anaheim
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,538
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
347,111 ✓ Larger
Cambridge
Massachusetts
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Anaheim, CA
Pros
Homes cost $284k less ($713,600 vs $997,600)
Rent averages $670/mo less ($1,958 vs $2,628)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 37°F
Cons
Median income trails Cambridge by $33,001/yr
Violent crime (596.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 3.3%)
Cambridge, MA
Pros
More college-educated — 79.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $33,001 more per year on average
27% less violent crime than Anaheim
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (3.3%)
Smaller class sizes — 9.4:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Anaheim
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
Anaheim
Median Home Value
$284k less
$713,600 vs $997,600
Cambridge
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 111.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Cambridge
Median Income
$33,001
$121,539 vs $88,538/yr
Cambridge
Violent Crime
27% lower
436.7 vs 596.2 per 100k
Cambridge
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.3% vs 5.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Anaheim, CA | Cambridge, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $713,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $997,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,958⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,628⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,538 | $121,539 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.4 min⚠ High | 26.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.8% | 25.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (74) | A+ (135) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.0:1 | 9.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% | 79.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.8% | 95.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Anaheim Elementary | Cambridge |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.0°F ✓ Warmer | 37.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer | 84.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" ✓ Drier | 49.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 49.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 347,111 ✓ Larger | 117,962 |
| Median Age | 35.4 ✓ Older | 30.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% ✓ Higher | 33.6% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 12.2% |
| Over 65 | 12.2% ✓ More | 11.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Anaheim's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Cambridge's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Cambridge is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Anaheim leads 12 of 23 categories. Anaheim wins 12 and Cambridge wins 11. 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 Anaheim to Cambridge or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($713,600 vs $997,600 median home), income ($88,538 vs $121,539), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Anaheim, CA and Cambridge, MA are about 2,569 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.