Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cambridge, MA
VS
Colorado Springs, CO
🏆 Colorado Springs 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
Colorado Springs
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$79,026
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High
Population
479,612 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cambridge, MA
Pros
Households earn $42,513 more per year on average
39% less violent crime than Colorado Springs
More college-educated — 79.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (3.3%)
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 14% higher than Colorado Springs
Property crime (2644.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Colorado Springs, CO
Pros
Homes cost $615k less ($383,000 vs $997,600)
Rent averages $1164/mo less ($1,464 vs $2,628)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Cambridge
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 37°F
Cons
Median income trails Cambridge by $42,513/yr
Violent crime (715.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3448.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 3.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cambridge
Median Income
$42,513
$121,539 vs $79,026/yr
Cambridge
Violent Crime
39% lower
436.7 vs 715.6 per 100k
Cambridge
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
3.3% vs 5.6% unemployment
Colorado Springs
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Colorado Springs
Median Home Value
$615k less
$383,000 vs $997,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cambridge, MA | Colorado Springs, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $997,600⚠ High | $383,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,628⚠ High | $1,464⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,539 ✓ Higher | $79,026 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.2 min | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 25.1% ✓ Higher | 13.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 179⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 188⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 164⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (135) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 9.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 41.1% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 94.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cambridge | Colorado Springs School District No. 11 in the county of E |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.0°F | 45.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.3" | 19.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" ✓ Less | 55.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,962 | 479,612 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.6 | 35.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 33.6% | 61.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 22.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cambridge's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Colorado Springs's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Colorado Springs is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Colorado Springs leads 12 of 23 categories. Cambridge wins 11 and Colorado Springs 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 Colorado Springs or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($997,600 vs $383,000 median home), income ($121,539 vs $79,026), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cambridge, MA and Colorado Springs, CO are about 1,769 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.