Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cambridge, MA
VS
Spokane, WA
🏆 Spokane leads 13 of 23 categories
Cambridge
Massachusetts
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$121,539 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,962
Spokane
Washington
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,316
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
227,922 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cambridge, MA
Pros
Households earn $58,223 more per year on average
35% less violent crime than Spokane
More college-educated — 79.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (3.3%)
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)
Spokane, WA
Pros
Homes cost $711k less ($286,900 vs $997,600)
Rent averages $1568/mo less ($1,060 vs $2,628)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Cambridge
Cons
Median income trails Cambridge by $58,223/yr
Violent crime (674.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4840.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 3.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cambridge
Median Income
$58,223
$121,539 vs $63,316/yr
Cambridge
Violent Crime
35% lower
436.7 vs 674.9 per 100k
Cambridge
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
3.3% vs 6.2% unemployment
Spokane
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 101.0 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Spokane
Median Home Value
$711k less
$286,900 vs $997,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cambridge, MA | Spokane, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $997,600⚠ High | $286,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,628⚠ High | $1,060 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,539 ✓ Higher | $63,316 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.2 min | 20.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 25.1% ✓ Higher | 12.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (135) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 9.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 32.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 93.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cambridge | Spokane School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.0°F | 37.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 87.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.3" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 45.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,962 | 227,922 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.6 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 33.6% | 57.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 20.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cambridge's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Spokane's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Spokane is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Spokane leads 13 of 23 categories. Cambridge wins 10 and Spokane wins 13. 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 Spokane or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($997,600 vs $286,900 median home), income ($121,539 vs $63,316), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cambridge, MA and Spokane, WA are about 2,257 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.