Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boston, MA
VS
Cambridge, MA
🏆 Cambridge leads 12 of 21 categories
Boston
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,212
Violent Crime Index
165⚠ High
Population
665,945 ✓ Larger
Cambridge
Massachusetts
12
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.
Boston, MA
Pros
Homes cost $313k less ($684,900 vs $997,600)
Rent averages $647/mo less ($1,981 vs $2,628)
Cons
Median income trails Cambridge by $32,327/yr
Violent crime (627.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 3.3%)
Cambridge, MA
Pros
30% less violent crime than Boston
Households earn $32,327 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (3.3%)
More college-educated — 79.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
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
Boston
Median Home Value
$313k less
$684,900 vs $997,600
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 111.6 on the COL index
Cambridge
Median Income
$32,327
$121,539 vs $89,212/yr
Cambridge
Violent Crime
30% lower
436.7 vs 627.9 per 100k
Cambridge
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
3.3% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | Cambridge, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $684,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $997,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,981⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,628⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,212 | $121,539 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High | 26.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.1% | 25.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) | A+ (135) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.6:1 | 9.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.4% | 79.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.4% | 95.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boston | Cambridge |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 37.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 84.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.6" ✓ Drier | 49.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 49.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 665,945 ✓ Larger | 117,962 |
| Median Age | 32.9 ✓ Older | 30.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.8% ✓ Higher | 33.6% |
| Under 18 | 15.7% ✓ More | 12.2% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 11.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boston's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Cambridge's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Cambridge leads 12 of 21 categories. Boston wins 9 and Cambridge wins 12. 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 Boston to Cambridge or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($684,900 vs $997,600 median home), income ($89,212 vs $121,539), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boston, MA and Cambridge, MA are about 6 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.