Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cambridge, MA
VS
Richardson, TX
🏆 Richardson leads 16 of 23 categories
Cambridge
Massachusetts
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$121,539 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High
Population
117,962
Richardson
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$94,362
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
118,063 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cambridge, MA
Pros
Households earn $27,177 more per year on average
More college-educated — 79.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (3.3%)
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)
Richardson, TX
Pros
Homes cost $618k less ($379,800 vs $997,600)
66% less violent crime than Cambridge
Rent averages $903/mo less ($1,725 vs $2,628)
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 37°F
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Cambridge
Cons
Median income trails Cambridge by $27,177/yr
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 3.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cambridge
Median Income
$27,177
$121,539 vs $94,362/yr
Cambridge
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
3.3% vs 5.0% unemployment
Richardson
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Richardson
Violent Crime
66% lower
146.7 vs 436.7 per 100k
Richardson
Median Home Value
$618k less
$379,800 vs $997,600
Richardson
Summer Heat
9.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 84.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cambridge, MA | Richardson, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $997,600⚠ High | $379,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,628⚠ High | $1,725⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,539 ✓ Higher | $94,362 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.2 min | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 25.1% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 39 ✓ 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 | A+ (133) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 9.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 55.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 92.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cambridge | RICHARDSON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.0°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.3" | 40.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 1.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,962 | 118,063 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.6 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 33.6% | 51.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 21.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 12.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cambridge's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Richardson's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Richardson is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richardson leads 16 of 23 categories. Cambridge wins 7 and Richardson wins 16. 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 Richardson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($997,600 vs $379,800 median home), income ($121,539 vs $94,362), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cambridge, MA and Richardson, TX are about 1,535 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.