Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cambridge, MA
VS
Salt Lake City, UT
🏆 Salt Lake City leads 12 of 23 categories
Cambridge
Massachusetts
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$121,539 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,962
Salt Lake City
Utah
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,357
Violent Crime Index
227⚠ High
Population
201,269 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cambridge, MA
Pros
Households earn $49,182 more per year on average
49% less violent crime than Salt Lake City
More college-educated — 79.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 91°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 Salt Lake City
Property crime (2644.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Salt Lake City, UT
Pros
Homes cost $539k less ($458,600 vs $997,600)
Rent averages $1374/mo less ($1,254 vs $2,628)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Cambridge
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Cambridge by $49,182/yr
Violent crime (864.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5200.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Cambridge
Median Income
$49,182
$121,539 vs $72,357/yr
Cambridge
Violent Crime
49% lower
436.7 vs 864.2 per 100k
Salt Lake City
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Salt Lake City
Median Home Value
$539k less
$458,600 vs $997,600
Salt Lake City
Summer Heat
6.7°F warmer
July avg high 91.4°F vs 84.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cambridge, MA | Salt Lake City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $997,600⚠ High | $458,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,628⚠ High | $1,254 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,539 ✓ Higher | $72,357 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 3.6% |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.2 min | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 25.1% ✓ Higher | 15.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 227⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (135) ✓ Better | B+ (105) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 9.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 50.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 91.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cambridge | Salt Lake District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.0°F | 39.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.3" | 17.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 49.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,962 | 201,269 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.6 | 32.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 33.6% | 47.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 18.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cambridge's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Salt Lake City's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Salt Lake City is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Salt Lake City leads 12 of 23 categories. Cambridge wins 11 and Salt Lake City wins 12. 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 Salt Lake City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($997,600 vs $458,600 median home), income ($121,539 vs $72,357), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cambridge, MA and Salt Lake City, UT are about 2,092 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.