Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cambridge, MA
VS
Sparks, NV
🏆 Sparks 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 ✓ Larger
Sparks
Nevada
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,938
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
108,025
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cambridge, MA
Pros
More college-educated — 79.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $38,601 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (3.3%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 92°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
Property crime (2644.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Sparks, NV
Pros
Homes cost $574k less ($423,500 vs $997,600)
Rent averages $1102/mo less ($1,526 vs $2,628)
10% less violent crime than Cambridge
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Cambridge
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 37°F
Cons
Median income trails Cambridge by $38,601/yr
Property crime (2583.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 3.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cambridge
Median Income
$38,601
$121,539 vs $82,938/yr
Cambridge
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
3.3% vs 6.1% unemployment
Sparks
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 103.2 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Sparks
Violent Crime
10% lower
394.4 vs 436.7 per 100k
Sparks
Median Home Value
$574k less
$423,500 vs $997,600
Sparks
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 84.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cambridge, MA | Sparks, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 103.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $997,600⚠ High | $423,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,628⚠ High | $1,526⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,539 ✓ Higher | $82,938 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.2 min | 23.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 25.1% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (135) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 9.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 25.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 85.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cambridge | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.0°F | 48.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.3" | 8.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 6.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,962 ✓ Larger | 108,025 |
| Median Age | 30.6 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 33.6% | 59.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cambridge's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Sparks's 103.2 (US average = 100).
Sparks is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sparks leads 15 of 23 categories. Cambridge wins 8 and Sparks 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 Sparks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($997,600 vs $423,500 median home), income ($121,539 vs $82,938), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cambridge, MA and Sparks, NV are about 2,508 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.