Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cambridge, MA
VS
Round Rock, TX
🏆 Round Rock leads 15 of 23 categories
Cambridge
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$121,539 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High
Population
117,962
Round Rock
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$91,888
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
120,465 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cambridge, MA
Pros
Households earn $29,651 more per year on average
More college-educated — 79.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (3.3%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 96°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
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Round Rock
Property crime (2644.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Round Rock, TX
Pros
Homes cost $660k less ($337,500 vs $997,600)
Rent averages $1042/mo less ($1,586 vs $2,628)
70% less violent crime than Cambridge
Violent crime is well below the national average (130.7 vs 380/100k)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Cambridge
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 37°F
Cons
Median income trails Cambridge by $29,651/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Cambridge
Median Income
$29,651
$121,539 vs $91,888/yr
Cambridge
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
3.3% vs 3.8% unemployment
Round Rock
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Round Rock
Violent Crime
70% lower
130.7 vs 436.7 per 100k
Round Rock
Median Home Value
$660k less
$337,500 vs $997,600
Round Rock
Summer Heat
11.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.7°F vs 84.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cambridge, MA | Round Rock, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $997,600⚠ High | $337,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,628⚠ High | $1,586⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,539 ✓ Higher | $91,888 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 3.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.2 min | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 25.1% ✓ Higher | 19.6% |
| 🔒 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 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (135) ✓ Better | A- (115) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 9.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 42.3% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 93.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cambridge | ROUND ROCK ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.0°F | 59.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 95.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.3" | 36.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,962 | 120,465 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.6 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 33.6% | 55.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% ✓ More | 10.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cambridge's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Round Rock's 97.6 (US average = 100).
Round Rock is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Round Rock leads 15 of 23 categories. Cambridge wins 8 and Round Rock 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 Round Rock or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($997,600 vs $337,500 median home), income ($121,539 vs $91,888), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cambridge, MA and Round Rock, TX are about 1,677 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.