Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cambridge, MA
VS
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY
🏆 Louisville/Jefferson County metro government leads 12 of 23 categories
Cambridge
Massachusetts
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$121,539 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,962
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Kentucky
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,114
Violent Crime Index
186⚠ High
Population
629,176 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cambridge, MA
Pros
Households earn $58,425 more per year on average
38% less violent crime than Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
More college-educated — 79.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (3.3%)
Smaller class sizes — 9.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $997,600
Higher rents — median is $2,628/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Property crime (2644.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY
Pros
Homes cost $793k less ($204,800 vs $997,600)
Rent averages $1614/mo less ($1,014 vs $2,628)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Cambridge
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.0)
Milder winters — January highs near 42°F vs 37°F
Cons
Median income trails Cambridge by $58,425/yr
Violent crime (707.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3326.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 3.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cambridge
Median Income
$58,425
$121,539 vs $63,114/yr
Cambridge
Violent Crime
38% lower
436.7 vs 707.4 per 100k
Cambridge
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
3.3% vs 5.3% unemployment
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 94.0 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Median Home Value
$793k less
$204,800 vs $997,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cambridge, MA | Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 94.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $997,600⚠ High | $204,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,628⚠ High | $1,014 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,539 ✓ Higher | $63,114 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.2 min | 22.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 25.1% ✓ Higher | 10.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 186⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 158⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (135) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 9.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 90.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cambridge | Jefferson County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.0°F | 42.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.3" ✓ Drier | 53.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 15.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,962 | 629,176 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.6 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 33.6% | 60.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 22.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cambridge's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Louisville/Jefferson County metro government's 94.0 (US average = 100).
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Louisville/Jefferson County metro government leads 12 of 23 categories. Cambridge wins 11 and Louisville/Jefferson County metro government 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 Louisville/Jefferson County metro government or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($997,600 vs $204,800 median home), income ($121,539 vs $63,114), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cambridge, MA and Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY are about 818 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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