Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cambridge, MA
VS
Shreveport, LA
🏆 Shreveport 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
Shreveport
Louisiana
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$45,967
Violent Crime Index
323⚠ High
Population
186,183 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cambridge, MA
Pros
Households earn $75,572 more per year on average
64% less violent crime than Shreveport
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.9 pts lower (3.3%)
More college-educated — 79.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 94°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 25% higher than Shreveport
Property crime (2644.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Shreveport, LA
Pros
Homes cost $829k less ($168,900 vs $997,600)
Rent averages $1683/mo less ($945 vs $2,628)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Cambridge
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 37°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.1)
Cons
Median income trails Cambridge by $75,572/yr
Violent crime (1228.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3990.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 3.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cambridge
Median Income
$75,572
$121,539 vs $45,967/yr
Cambridge
Violent Crime
64% lower
436.7 vs 1228.5 per 100k
Cambridge
Unemployment
5.9 pp lower
3.3% vs 9.2% unemployment
Shreveport
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 87.1 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Shreveport
Median Home Value
$829k less
$168,900 vs $997,600
Shreveport
Summer Heat
9.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 84.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cambridge, MA | Shreveport, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 87.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $997,600⚠ High | $168,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,628⚠ High | $945 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,539 ✓ Higher | $45,967 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 9.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.2 min | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 25.1% ✓ Higher | 4.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 270⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 323⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (135) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 9.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 26.6% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 87.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cambridge | Caddo Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.0°F | 58.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.3" ✓ Drier | 51.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,962 | 186,183 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.6 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 33.6% | 53.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 23.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 17.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cambridge's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Shreveport's 87.1 (US average = 100).
Shreveport is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Shreveport leads 12 of 23 categories. Cambridge wins 11 and Shreveport 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 Shreveport or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($997,600 vs $168,900 median home), income ($121,539 vs $45,967), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cambridge, MA and Shreveport, LA are about 1,414 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.