Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cambridge, MA
VS
Reno, NV
🏆 Reno 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 ✓ Safer
Population
117,962
Reno
Nevada
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,073
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High
Population
265,196 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cambridge, MA
Pros
Households earn $48,466 more per year on average
More college-educated — 79.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
18% less violent crime than Reno
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (3.3%)
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)
Reno, NV
Pros
Homes cost $536k less ($462,100 vs $997,600)
Rent averages $1268/mo less ($1,360 vs $2,628)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Cambridge
Milder winters — January highs near 46°F vs 37°F
Cons
Median income trails Cambridge by $48,466/yr
Violent crime (529.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 3.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cambridge
Median Income
$48,466
$121,539 vs $73,073/yr
Cambridge
Violent Crime
18% lower
436.7 vs 529.6 per 100k
Cambridge
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
3.3% vs 5.0% unemployment
Reno
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 102.8 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Reno
Median Home Value
$536k less
$462,100 vs $997,600
Reno
Summer Heat
8.0°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 84.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cambridge, MA | Reno, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 102.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $997,600⚠ High | $462,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,628⚠ High | $1,360⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,539 ✓ Higher | $73,073 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.2 min | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 25.1% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ 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 | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 35.3% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 89.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cambridge | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.0°F | 45.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.3" | 9.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 33.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,962 | 265,196 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.6 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 33.6% | 48.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 19.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cambridge's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Reno's 102.8 (US average = 100).
Reno is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Reno leads 14 of 23 categories. Cambridge wins 9 and Reno 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 Reno or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($997,600 vs $462,100 median home), income ($121,539 vs $73,073), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cambridge, MA and Reno, NV are about 2,515 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.