Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cambridge, MA
VS
Roswell, GA
🏆 Roswell leads 15 of 23 categories
Cambridge
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$121,539
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High
Population
117,962 ✓ Larger
Roswell
Georgia
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$122,924 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
42 ✓ Safer
Population
92,770
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cambridge, MA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (3.3%)
More college-educated — 79.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
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)
Roswell, GA
Pros
Homes cost $518k less ($479,400 vs $997,600)
Rent averages $1009/mo less ($1,619 vs $2,628)
63% less violent crime than Cambridge
Violent crime is well below the national average (160.1 vs 380/100k)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Cambridge
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 37°F
Cons
Higher unemployment (4.3% vs 3.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cambridge
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
3.3% vs 4.3% unemployment
Roswell
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Roswell
Median Income
$1,385
$122,924 vs $121,539/yr
Roswell
Violent Crime
63% lower
160.1 vs 436.7 per 100k
Roswell
Median Home Value
$518k less
$479,400 vs $997,600
Roswell
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 89.4°F vs 84.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cambridge, MA | Roswell, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $997,600⚠ High | $479,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,628⚠ High | $1,619⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,539 | $122,924 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 4.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.2 min ✓ Shorter | 29.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 25.1% | 25.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 45 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (135) ✓ Better | A- (117) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 9.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 63.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 94.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cambridge | Fulton County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.0°F | 51.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.3" ✓ Drier | 53.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 1.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,962 ✓ Larger | 92,770 |
| Median Age | 30.6 | 40.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 33.6% | 70.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cambridge's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Roswell's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Roswell is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Roswell leads 15 of 23 categories. Cambridge wins 8 and Roswell wins 15. 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 Roswell or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($997,600 vs $479,400 median home), income ($121,539 vs $122,924), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cambridge, MA and Roswell, GA are about 919 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.