Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boca Raton, FL
VS
Cambridge, MA
🏆 Boca Raton leads 14 of 23 categories
Boca Raton
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,570
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
97,980
Cambridge
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Boca Raton, FL
Pros
Homes cost $401k less ($597,100 vs $997,600)
61% less violent crime than Cambridge
Violent crime is well below the national average (171.0 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $458/mo less ($2,170 vs $2,628)
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 37°F
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Cambridge by $25,969/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 3.3%)
Cambridge, MA
Pros
Households earn $25,969 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (3.3%)
More college-educated — 79.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 91°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
Boca Raton
Violent Crime
61% lower
171.0 vs 436.7 per 100k
Boca Raton
Median Home Value
$401k less
$597,100 vs $997,600
Boca Raton
Summer Heat
5.8°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 84.7°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 111.8 on the COL index
Cambridge
Median Income
$25,969
$121,539 vs $95,570/yr
Cambridge
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
3.3% vs 5.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boca Raton, FL | Cambridge, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $997,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,170⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,628⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,570 | $121,539 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 26.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 18.0% | 25.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) | A+ (135) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 | 9.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.0% | 79.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 96.0% ✓ Higher | 95.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PALM BEACH | Cambridge |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.3°F ✓ Warmer | 37.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 84.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.6" | 49.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 49.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,980 | 117,962 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 47.1 ✓ Older | 30.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.7% ✓ Higher | 33.6% |
| Under 18 | 17.0% ✓ More | 12.2% |
| Over 65 | 25.7% ✓ More | 11.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boca Raton's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Cambridge's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Cambridge is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boca Raton leads 14 of 23 categories. Boca Raton 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 Boca Raton to Cambridge or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,100 vs $997,600 median home), income ($95,570 vs $121,539), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boca Raton, FL and Cambridge, MA are about 1,217 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.