Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cambridge, MA
VS
Frisco, TX
🏆 Frisco leads 17 of 23 categories
Cambridge
Massachusetts
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$121,539
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High
Population
117,962
Frisco
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$144,567 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
27 ✓ Safer
Population
202,075 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cambridge, MA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (3.3%)
More college-educated — 79.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
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
Median income trails Frisco by $23,028/yr
Property crime (2644.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Frisco, TX
Pros
Homes cost $466k less ($531,400 vs $997,600)
77% less violent crime than Cambridge
Rent averages $825/mo less ($1,803 vs $2,628)
Violent crime is well below the national average (100.9 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $23,028 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 37°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Cambridge
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
3.3% vs 3.9% unemployment
Frisco
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Frisco
Median Income
$23,028
$144,567 vs $121,539/yr
Frisco
Violent Crime
77% lower
100.9 vs 436.7 per 100k
Frisco
Median Home Value
$466k less
$531,400 vs $997,600
Frisco
Summer Heat
9.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 84.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cambridge, MA | Frisco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $997,600⚠ High | $531,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,628⚠ High | $1,803⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,539 | $144,567 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 3.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.2 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 25.1% | 29.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 27 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (135) ✓ Better | A+ (130) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 9.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 65.9% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% | 96.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cambridge | FRISCO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.0°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.3" | 42.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 2.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,962 | 202,075 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.6 | 37.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 33.6% | 67.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 28.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% ✓ More | 9.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cambridge's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Frisco's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Frisco is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Frisco leads 17 of 23 categories. Cambridge wins 6 and Frisco wins 17. 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 Frisco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($997,600 vs $531,400 median home), income ($121,539 vs $144,567), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cambridge, MA and Frisco, TX are about 1,534 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.