Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cambridge, MA
VS
Ontario, CA
🏆 Ontario leads 14 of 23 categories
Cambridge
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$121,539 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High
Population
117,962
Ontario
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,070
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
176,326 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cambridge, MA
Pros
Households earn $43,469 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
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 94°F
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)
Ontario, CA
Pros
Homes cost $485k less ($513,000 vs $997,600)
Rent averages $802/mo less ($1,826 vs $2,628)
38% less violent crime than Cambridge
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 37°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Cambridge
Cons
Median income trails Cambridge by $43,469/yr
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 3.3%)
Longer commutes — 31.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Cambridge
Median Income
$43,469
$121,539 vs $78,070/yr
Cambridge
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
3.3% vs 5.8% unemployment
Ontario
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Ontario
Violent Crime
38% lower
272.2 vs 436.7 per 100k
Ontario
Median Home Value
$485k less
$513,000 vs $997,600
Ontario
Summer Heat
9.1°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 84.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cambridge, MA | Ontario, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $997,600⚠ High | $513,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,628⚠ High | $1,826⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,539 ✓ Higher | $78,070 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.2 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 25.1% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (135) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 9.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 19.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 76.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cambridge | Ontario-Montclair |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.0°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.3" | 11.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,962 | 176,326 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.6 | 32.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 33.6% | 55.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 24.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% ✓ More | 10.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cambridge's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Ontario's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Ontario is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Ontario leads 14 of 23 categories. Cambridge wins 9 and Ontario wins 14. 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 Ontario or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($997,600 vs $513,000 median home), income ($121,539 vs $78,070), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cambridge, MA and Ontario, CA are about 2,556 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.