Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cambridge, MA
VS
Lynn, MA
🏆 Cambridge leads 12 of 22 categories
Cambridge
Massachusetts
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$121,539 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,962 ✓ Larger
Lynn
Massachusetts
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$70,046
Violent Crime Index
151⚠ High
Population
100,653
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cambridge, MA
Pros
Households earn $51,493 more per year on average
More college-educated — 79.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
24% less violent crime than Lynn
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (3.3%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
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)
Lynn, MA
Pros
Homes cost $555k less ($442,800 vs $997,600)
Rent averages $1117/mo less ($1,511 vs $2,628)
Cons
Median income trails Cambridge by $51,493/yr
Violent crime (574.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 3.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cambridge
Median Income
$51,493
$121,539 vs $70,046/yr
Cambridge
Violent Crime
24% lower
436.7 vs 574.6 per 100k
Cambridge
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
3.3% vs 5.7% unemployment
Cambridge
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 84.7°F vs 80.3°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 111.6 on the COL index
Lynn
Median Home Value
$555k less
$442,800 vs $997,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cambridge, MA | Lynn, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $997,600⚠ High | $442,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,628⚠ High | $1,511⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,539 ✓ Higher | $70,046 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.2 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 25.1% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (135) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 9.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 12.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 21.9% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 77.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cambridge | Lynn |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.0°F ✓ Warmer | 36.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.3" | 47.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 39.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,962 ✓ Larger | 100,653 |
| Median Age | 30.6 | 36.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 33.6% | 48.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 13.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cambridge's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Lynn's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Cambridge leads 12 of 22 categories. Cambridge wins 12 and Lynn wins 10. 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 Lynn or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($997,600 vs $442,800 median home), income ($121,539 vs $70,046), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cambridge, MA and Lynn, MA are about 11 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.