Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cambridge, MA
VS
Richmond, CA
🏆 Cambridge leads 14 of 23 categories
Cambridge
Massachusetts
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$121,539 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,962 ✓ Larger
Richmond
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,618
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
115,619
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cambridge, MA
Pros
53% less violent crime than Richmond
More college-educated — 79.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $34,921 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (3.3%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Richmond
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)
Richmond, CA
Pros
Homes cost $373k less ($624,800 vs $997,600)
Rent averages $775/mo less ($1,853 vs $2,628)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 37°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 85°F
Cons
Median income trails Cambridge by $34,921/yr
Violent crime (923.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Property crime (2762.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Cambridge
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 111.6 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Cambridge
Median Income
$34,921
$121,539 vs $86,618/yr
Cambridge
Violent Crime
53% lower
436.7 vs 923.1 per 100k
Cambridge
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
3.3% vs 6.9% unemployment
Cambridge
Summer Heat
13.9°F warmer
July avg high 84.7°F vs 70.8°F
Richmond
Median Home Value
$373k less
$624,800 vs $997,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cambridge, MA | Richmond, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $997,600⚠ High | $624,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,628⚠ High | $1,853⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,539 ✓ Higher | $86,618 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.2 min ✓ Shorter | 34.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 25.1% ✓ Higher | 11.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (135) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 9.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 32.1% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 79.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cambridge | West Contra Costa Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.0°F | 58.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F ✓ Warmer | 70.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.3" | 24.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,962 ✓ Larger | 115,619 |
| Median Age | 30.6 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 33.6% | 51.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 21.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cambridge's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Richmond's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Cambridge is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cambridge leads 14 of 23 categories. Cambridge wins 14 and Richmond wins 9. 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 Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($997,600 vs $624,800 median home), income ($121,539 vs $86,618), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cambridge, MA and Richmond, CA are about 2,682 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.