Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cambridge, MA
VS
Daly City, CA
🏆 Cambridge leads 12 of 23 categories
Cambridge
Massachusetts
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$121,539 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High
Population
117,962 ✓ Larger
Daly City
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$114,910
Violent Crime Index
78 ✓ Safer
Population
103,648
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 2.1 pts lower (3.3%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Homes cost $76k less ($997,600 vs $1,073,100)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Daly City
Households earn $6,629 more per year on average
Cons
Property crime (2644.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Daly City, CA
Pros
32% less violent crime than Cambridge
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 85°F
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 37°F
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 3.3%)
Longer commutes — 29.8 min average each way
Pricier housing — median home is $1,073,100
Key Differences at a Glance
Cambridge
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 111.6 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Cambridge
Median Income
$6,629
$121,539 vs $114,910/yr
Cambridge
Median Home Value
$76k less
$997,600 vs $1,073,100
Cambridge
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.3% vs 5.4% unemployment
Cambridge
Summer Heat
22.9°F warmer
July avg high 84.7°F vs 61.8°F
Daly City
Violent Crime
32% lower
296.3 vs 436.7 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cambridge, MA | Daly City, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $997,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,073,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,628⚠ High | $2,554⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,539 ✓ Higher | $114,910 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.2 min ✓ Shorter | 29.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 25.1% ✓ Higher | 10.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 86 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (135) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 9.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 38.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 87.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cambridge | Jefferson Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.0°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F ✓ Warmer | 61.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.3" | 20.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,962 ✓ Larger | 103,648 |
| Median Age | 30.6 | 41.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 33.6% | 60.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 14.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 19.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cambridge's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Daly City's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Cambridge is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cambridge leads 12 of 23 categories. Cambridge wins 12 and Daly City wins 11. 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 Daly City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($997,600 vs $1,073,100 median home), income ($121,539 vs $114,910), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cambridge, MA and Daly City, CA are about 2,695 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.