Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cambridge, MA
VS
Riverside, CA
🏆 Cambridge leads 12 of 23 categories
Cambridge
Massachusetts
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$121,539 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,962
Riverside
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,448
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High
Population
316,076 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cambridge, MA
Pros
More college-educated — 79.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $38,091 more per year on average
26% less violent crime than Riverside
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (3.3%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 95°F
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)
Riverside, CA
Pros
Homes cost $512k less ($485,500 vs $997,600)
Rent averages $917/mo less ($1,711 vs $2,628)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 37°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Cambridge
Cons
Median income trails Cambridge by $38,091/yr
Violent crime (589.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2832.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 3.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cambridge
Median Income
$38,091
$121,539 vs $83,448/yr
Cambridge
Violent Crime
26% lower
436.7 vs 589.7 per 100k
Cambridge
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
3.3% vs 6.1% unemployment
Riverside
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Riverside
Median Home Value
$512k less
$485,500 vs $997,600
Riverside
Summer Heat
10.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 84.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cambridge, MA | Riverside, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $997,600⚠ High | $485,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,628⚠ High | $1,711⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,539 ✓ Higher | $83,448 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.2 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 25.1% ✓ Higher | 8.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 147⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (135) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 9.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 82.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cambridge | Riverside Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.0°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.3" | 10.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,962 | 316,076 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.6 | 32.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 33.6% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cambridge's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Riverside's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Riverside is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cambridge leads 12 of 23 categories. Cambridge wins 12 and Riverside wins 11. 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 Riverside or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($997,600 vs $485,500 median home), income ($121,539 vs $83,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cambridge, MA and Riverside, CA are about 2,548 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.