Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cambridge, MA
VS
Rochester, NY
🏆 Cambridge leads 13 of 23 categories
Cambridge
Massachusetts
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$121,539 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,962
Rochester
New York
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$44,156
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
210,992 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cambridge, MA
Pros
Households earn $77,383 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.2 pts lower (3.3%)
More college-educated — 79.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
25% less violent crime than Rochester
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $997,600
Higher rents — median is $2,628/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Rochester
Property crime (2644.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $886k less ($111,400 vs $997,600)
Rent averages $1633/mo less ($995 vs $2,628)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Cambridge
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Cambridge by $77,383/yr
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3289.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.5% vs 3.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cambridge
Median Income
$77,383
$121,539 vs $44,156/yr
Cambridge
Violent Crime
25% lower
436.7 vs 582.3 per 100k
Cambridge
Unemployment
5.2 pp lower
3.3% vs 8.5% unemployment
Rochester
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Home Value
$886k less
$111,400 vs $997,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cambridge, MA | Rochester, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $997,600⚠ High | $111,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,628⚠ High | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,539 ✓ Higher | $44,156 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 8.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.2 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 25.1% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (135) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 9.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 10.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 83.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cambridge | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.0°F ✓ Warmer | 33.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.3" | 35.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" ✓ Less | 102.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,962 | 210,992 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.6 | 32.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 33.6% | 37.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 21.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 12.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cambridge's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Rochester's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cambridge leads 13 of 23 categories. Cambridge wins 13 and Rochester wins 10. 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 Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($997,600 vs $111,400 median home), income ($121,539 vs $44,156), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cambridge, MA and Rochester, NY are about 334 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.