Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cambridge, MA
VS
Oakland, CA
🏆 Cambridge leads 13 of 23 categories
Cambridge
Massachusetts
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$121,539 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,962
Oakland
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,389
Violent Crime Index
507⚠ High
Population
437,825 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cambridge, MA
Pros
77% less violent crime than Oakland
Households earn $27,150 more per year on average
More college-educated — 79.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (3.3%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Oakland
Cons
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)
Pricier housing — median home is $997,600
Oakland, CA
Pros
Rent averages $779/mo less ($1,849 vs $2,628)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 37°F
Homes cost $114k less ($883,800 vs $997,600)
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 85°F
Cons
Violent crime (1925.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Cambridge by $27,150/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Property crime (7230.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Cambridge
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 111.6 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Cambridge
Median Income
$27,150
$121,539 vs $94,389/yr
Cambridge
Violent Crime
77% lower
436.7 vs 1925.3 per 100k
Cambridge
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
3.3% vs 5.8% unemployment
Cambridge
Summer Heat
13.1°F warmer
July avg high 84.7°F vs 71.6°F
Oakland
Median Home Value
$114k less
$883,800 vs $997,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cambridge, MA | Oakland, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $997,600⚠ High | $883,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,628⚠ High | $1,849⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,539 ✓ Higher | $94,389 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.2 min ✓ Shorter | 31.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 25.1% ✓ Higher | 20.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 400⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 507⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 344⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (135) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 9.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 48.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 85.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cambridge | Oakland Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.0°F | 59.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F ✓ Warmer | 71.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.3" | 22.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,962 | 437,825 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.6 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 33.6% | 42.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 19.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 14.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cambridge's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Oakland's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Cambridge is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cambridge leads 13 of 23 categories. Cambridge wins 13 and Oakland 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 Oakland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($997,600 vs $883,800 median home), income ($121,539 vs $94,389), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cambridge, MA and Oakland, CA are about 2,680 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.