Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cambridge, MA
VS
Providence, RI
🏆 Providence 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
Providence
Rhode Island
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,365
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
189,715 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cambridge, MA
Pros
Households earn $60,174 more per year on average
More college-educated — 79.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.9 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
Property crime (2644.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Providence, RI
Pros
Homes cost $705k less ($293,000 vs $997,600)
Rent averages $1414/mo less ($1,214 vs $2,628)
37% less violent crime than Cambridge
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Cambridge
Cons
Median income trails Cambridge by $60,174/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 3.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cambridge
Median Income
$60,174
$121,539 vs $61,365/yr
Cambridge
Unemployment
3.9 pp lower
3.3% vs 7.2% unemployment
Providence
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Providence
Violent Crime
37% lower
276.7 vs 436.7 per 100k
Providence
Median Home Value
$705k less
$293,000 vs $997,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cambridge, MA | Providence, RI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $997,600⚠ High | $293,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,628⚠ High | $1,214 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,539 ✓ Higher | $61,365 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.2 min | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 25.1% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 73 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (135) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 9.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 34.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 82.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cambridge | Providence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.0°F | 38.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.3" | 47.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 36.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,962 | 189,715 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.6 | 32.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 33.6% | 39.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 20.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cambridge's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Providence's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Providence is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Providence leads 14 of 23 categories. Cambridge wins 9 and Providence 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 Providence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($997,600 vs $293,000 median home), income ($121,539 vs $61,365), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cambridge, MA and Providence, RI are about 41 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.