Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cambridge, MA
VS
Knoxville, TN
🏆 Knoxville 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
Knoxville
Tennessee
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,309
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
191,857 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cambridge, MA
Pros
Households earn $73,230 more per year on average
41% less violent crime than Knoxville
More college-educated — 79.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (3.3%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $997,600
Higher rents — median is $2,628/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Knoxville
Property crime (2644.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Knoxville, TN
Pros
Homes cost $813k less ($184,200 vs $997,600)
Rent averages $1585/mo less ($1,043 vs $2,628)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Cambridge
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 37°F
Cons
Median income trails Cambridge by $73,230/yr
Violent crime (740.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2721.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.8% vs 3.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cambridge
Median Income
$73,230
$121,539 vs $48,309/yr
Cambridge
Violent Crime
41% lower
436.7 vs 740.3 per 100k
Cambridge
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
3.3% vs 4.8% unemployment
Knoxville
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Knoxville
Median Home Value
$813k less
$184,200 vs $997,600
Knoxville
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 88.3°F vs 84.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cambridge, MA | Knoxville, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $997,600⚠ High | $184,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,628⚠ High | $1,043 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,539 ✓ Higher | $48,309 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 4.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.2 min | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 25.1% ✓ Higher | 9.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (135) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 9.4:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 33.1% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 90.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cambridge | Knox County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.0°F | 47.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.3" ✓ Drier | 55.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 4.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,962 | 191,857 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.6 | 33.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 33.6% | 46.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 18.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cambridge's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Knoxville's 92.8 (US average = 100).
Knoxville is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Knoxville leads 12 of 22 categories. Cambridge wins 10 and Knoxville 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 Knoxville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($997,600 vs $184,200 median home), income ($121,539 vs $48,309), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cambridge, MA and Knoxville, TN are about 816 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.