Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cambridge, MA
VS
Columbus, OH
🏆 Columbus leads 12 of 22 categories
Cambridge
Massachusetts
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$121,539 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High
Population
117,962
Columbus
Ohio
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,994
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
902,449 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cambridge, MA
Pros
Households earn $58,545 more per year on average
More college-educated — 79.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 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 17% higher than Columbus
Property crime (2644.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Columbus, OH
Pros
Homes cost $785k less ($212,500 vs $997,600)
Rent averages $1467/mo less ($1,161 vs $2,628)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Cambridge
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.5)
Cons
Median income trails Cambridge by $58,545/yr
Property crime (2653.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 3.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cambridge
Median Income
$58,545
$121,539 vs $62,994/yr
Cambridge
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
3.3% vs 5.2% unemployment
Columbus
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 94.5 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Columbus
Median Home Value
$785k less
$212,500 vs $997,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cambridge, MA | Columbus, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 94.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $997,600⚠ High | $212,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,628⚠ High | $1,161 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,539 ✓ Higher | $62,994 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.2 min | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 25.1% ✓ Higher | 13.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 119⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 126⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (135) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 9.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 38.3% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 90.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cambridge | Columbus City Schools District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.0°F ✓ Warmer | 36.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 85.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.3" | 42.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 28.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,962 | 902,449 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.6 | 32.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 33.6% | 44.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 21.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cambridge's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Columbus's 94.5 (US average = 100).
Columbus is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Columbus leads 12 of 22 categories. Cambridge wins 10 and Columbus 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 Columbus or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($997,600 vs $212,500 median home), income ($121,539 vs $62,994), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cambridge, MA and Columbus, OH are about 638 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.