Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cambridge, MA
VS
Chico, CA
🏆 Chico 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 ✓ Larger
Chico
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$65,932
Violent Crime Index
184⚠ High
Population
102,790
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cambridge, MA
Pros
Households earn $55,607 more per year on average
38% less violent crime than Chico
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (3.3%)
More college-educated — 79.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
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)
Chico, CA
Pros
Homes cost $570k less ($427,600 vs $997,600)
Rent averages $1268/mo less ($1,360 vs $2,628)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 37°F
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Cambridge
Cons
Median income trails Cambridge by $55,607/yr
Violent crime (699.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 3.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cambridge
Median Income
$55,607
$121,539 vs $65,932/yr
Cambridge
Violent Crime
38% lower
436.7 vs 699.2 per 100k
Cambridge
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
3.3% vs 6.9% unemployment
Chico
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 104.6 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Chico
Median Home Value
$570k less
$427,600 vs $997,600
Chico
Summer Heat
10.5°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 84.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cambridge, MA | Chico, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 104.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $997,600⚠ High | $427,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,628⚠ High | $1,360⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,539 ✓ Higher | $65,932 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.2 min | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 25.1% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 147⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 184⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (135) ✓ Better | A- (112) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 9.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 41.3% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 93.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cambridge | Inspire School of Arts and Sciences District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.0°F | 56.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.3" | 28.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,962 ✓ Larger | 102,790 |
| Median Age | 30.6 ✓ Older | 30.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 33.6% | 44.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 18.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 13.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cambridge's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Chico's 104.6 (US average = 100).
Chico is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chico leads 12 of 23 categories. Cambridge wins 11 and Chico 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 Chico or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($997,600 vs $427,600 median home), income ($121,539 vs $65,932), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cambridge, MA and Chico, CA are about 2,608 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.