Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cambridge, MA
VS
Charlotte, NC
🏆 Charlotte leads 12 of 23 categories
Cambridge
Massachusetts
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$121,539 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,962
Charlotte
North Carolina
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,070
Violent Crime Index
193⚠ High
Population
875,045 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cambridge, MA
Pros
Households earn $47,469 more per year on average
40% less violent crime than Charlotte
More college-educated — 79.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (3.3%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 90°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 15% higher than Charlotte
Property crime (2644.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Charlotte, NC
Pros
Homes cost $685k less ($312,800 vs $997,600)
Rent averages $1229/mo less ($1,399 vs $2,628)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Cambridge
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 37°F
Cons
Median income trails Cambridge by $47,469/yr
Violent crime (733.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3705.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.7% vs 3.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cambridge
Median Income
$47,469
$121,539 vs $74,070/yr
Cambridge
Violent Crime
40% lower
436.7 vs 733.2 per 100k
Cambridge
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
3.3% vs 4.7% unemployment
Charlotte
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 97.0 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Charlotte
Median Home Value
$685k less
$312,800 vs $997,600
Charlotte
Summer Heat
5.6°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 84.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cambridge, MA | Charlotte, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 97.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $997,600⚠ High | $312,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,628⚠ High | $1,399⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,539 ✓ Higher | $74,070 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.2 min | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 25.1% ✓ Higher | 21.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 186⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 176⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (135) ✓ Better | B+ (108) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 9.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 46.6% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 89.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cambridge | Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.0°F | 52.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.3" | 43.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 3.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,962 | 875,045 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.6 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 33.6% | 52.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 22.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cambridge's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Charlotte's 97.0 (US average = 100).
Charlotte is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Charlotte leads 12 of 23 categories. Cambridge wins 11 and Charlotte 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 Cambridge to Charlotte or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($997,600 vs $312,800 median home), income ($121,539 vs $74,070), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cambridge, MA and Charlotte, NC are about 719 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.