Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cambridge, MA
VS
Chino, CA
🏆 Chino leads 14 of 23 categories
Cambridge
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$121,539 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High
Population
117,962 ✓ Larger
Chino
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$99,385
Violent Crime Index
79 ✓ Safer
Population
91,008
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cambridge, MA
Pros
More college-educated — 79.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (3.3%)
Households earn $22,154 more per year on average
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 94°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)
Chino, CA
Pros
Homes cost $398k less ($599,200 vs $997,600)
31% less violent crime than Cambridge
Rent averages $627/mo less ($2,001 vs $2,628)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 37°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Cambridge
Cons
Median income trails Cambridge by $22,154/yr
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 3.3%)
Longer commutes — 34.2 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Cambridge
Median Income
$22,154
$121,539 vs $99,385/yr
Cambridge
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
3.3% vs 5.5% unemployment
Chino
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Chino
Violent Crime
31% lower
299.5 vs 436.7 per 100k
Chino
Median Home Value
$398k less
$599,200 vs $997,600
Chino
Summer Heat
9.0°F warmer
July avg high 93.7°F vs 84.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cambridge, MA | Chino, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $997,600⚠ High | $599,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,628⚠ High | $2,001⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,539 ✓ Higher | $99,385 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.2 min ✓ Shorter | 34.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 25.1% ✓ Higher | 13.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (135) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 9.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 28.1% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 83.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cambridge | Chino Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.0°F | 69.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 93.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.3" | 10.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,962 ✓ Larger | 91,008 |
| Median Age | 30.6 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 33.6% | 63.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 12.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cambridge's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Chino's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Chino is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chino leads 14 of 23 categories. Cambridge wins 9 and Chino wins 14. 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 Chino or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($997,600 vs $599,200 median home), income ($121,539 vs $99,385), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cambridge, MA and Chino, CA are about 2,560 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.