Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cambridge, MA
VS
Highlands Ranch, CO
🏆 Highlands Ranch 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 ✓ Larger
Highlands Ranch
Colorado
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$148,227 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
101,514
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
Smaller class sizes — 9.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $997,600
Median income trails Highlands Ranch by $26,688/yr
Property crime (2644.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Highlands Ranch, CO
Pros
68% less violent crime than Cambridge
Homes cost $360k less ($637,400 vs $997,600)
Households earn $26,688 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.1 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $275/mo less ($2,353 vs $2,628)
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 37°F
Cons
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Highlands Ranch
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Highlands Ranch
Median Income
$26,688
$148,227 vs $121,539/yr
Highlands Ranch
Violent Crime
68% lower
138.1 vs 436.7 per 100k
Highlands Ranch
Median Home Value
$360k less
$637,400 vs $997,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cambridge, MA | Highlands Ranch, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $997,600⚠ High | $637,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,628⚠ High | $2,353⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,539 | $148,227 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 3.4% |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.2 min | 25.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 25.1% | 26.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (135) ✓ Better | A- (114) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 9.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 65.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% | 98.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cambridge | Douglas County School District No. Re 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.0°F | 44.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.3" | 18.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" ✓ Less | 64.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,962 ✓ Larger | 101,514 |
| Median Age | 30.6 | 41.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 33.6% | 79.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 24.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cambridge's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Highlands Ranch's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Highlands Ranch is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Highlands Ranch leads 17 of 23 categories. Cambridge wins 6 and Highlands Ranch 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 Highlands Ranch or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($997,600 vs $637,400 median home), income ($121,539 vs $148,227), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cambridge, MA and Highlands Ranch, CO are about 1,765 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.