Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cambridge, MA
VS
Fresno, CA
🏆 Fresno 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 ✓ Safer
Population
117,962
Fresno
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,001
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
541,528 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cambridge, MA
Pros
Households earn $58,538 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.7 pts lower (3.3%)
More college-educated — 79.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
41% less violent crime than Fresno
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 98°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)
Fresno, CA
Pros
Homes cost $676k less ($321,800 vs $997,600)
Rent averages $1401/mo less ($1,227 vs $2,628)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 37°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Cambridge
Cons
Median income trails Cambridge by $58,538/yr
Violent crime (735.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3271.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.0% vs 3.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cambridge
Median Income
$58,538
$121,539 vs $63,001/yr
Cambridge
Violent Crime
41% lower
436.7 vs 735.5 per 100k
Cambridge
Unemployment
5.7 pp lower
3.3% vs 9.0% unemployment
Fresno
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 105.0 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Fresno
Median Home Value
$676k less
$321,800 vs $997,600
Fresno
Summer Heat
13.0°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 84.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cambridge, MA | Fresno, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $997,600⚠ High | $321,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,628⚠ High | $1,227 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,539 ✓ Higher | $63,001 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.2 min | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 25.1% ✓ Higher | 8.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 194⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| 🎓 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 | 19.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 79.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cambridge | Fresno Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.0°F | 55.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.3" | 11.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,962 | 541,528 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.6 | 32.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 33.6% | 48.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 11.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cambridge's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Fresno's 105.0 (US average = 100).
Fresno is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Fresno leads 12 of 22 categories. Cambridge wins 10 and Fresno 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 Fresno or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($997,600 vs $321,800 median home), income ($121,539 vs $63,001), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cambridge, MA and Fresno, CA are about 2,585 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.