Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cambridge, MA
VS
Pasadena, TX
🏆 Pasadena 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
Pasadena
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,698
Violent Crime Index
149⚠ High
Population
150,620 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cambridge, MA
Pros
Households earn $56,841 more per year on average
More college-educated — 79.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.6 pts lower (3.3%)
23% less violent crime than Pasadena
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 93°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)
Pasadena, TX
Pros
Homes cost $826k less ($171,600 vs $997,600)
Rent averages $1469/mo less ($1,159 vs $2,628)
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 37°F
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Cambridge
Cons
Median income trails Cambridge by $56,841/yr
Violent crime (566.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.9% vs 3.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cambridge
Median Income
$56,841
$121,539 vs $64,698/yr
Cambridge
Violent Crime
23% lower
436.7 vs 566.1 per 100k
Cambridge
Unemployment
5.6 pp lower
3.3% vs 8.9% unemployment
Pasadena
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Pasadena
Median Home Value
$826k less
$171,600 vs $997,600
Pasadena
Summer Heat
8.2°F warmer
July avg high 92.9°F vs 84.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cambridge, MA | Pasadena, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $997,600⚠ High | $171,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,628⚠ High | $1,159 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,539 ✓ Higher | $64,698 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 8.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.2 min | 25.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 25.1% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 134⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 149⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (135) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 9.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 15.9% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 73.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cambridge | PASADENA ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.0°F | 63.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 92.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.3" ✓ Drier | 57.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,962 | 150,620 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.6 | 32.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 33.6% | 53.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cambridge's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Pasadena's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Pasadena is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pasadena leads 12 of 23 categories. Cambridge wins 11 and Pasadena 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 Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($997,600 vs $171,600 median home), income ($121,539 vs $64,698), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cambridge, MA and Pasadena, TX are about 1,596 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.