Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cambridge, MA
VS
Spring Valley, NV
🏆 Spring Valley leads 16 of 23 categories
Cambridge
Massachusetts
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$121,539 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High
Population
117,962
Spring Valley
Nevada
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,341
Violent Crime Index
25 ✓ Safer
Population
220,114 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cambridge, MA
Pros
Households earn $52,198 more per year on average
More college-educated — 79.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.3 pts lower (3.3%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 106°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)
Spring Valley, NV
Pros
Homes cost $622k less ($375,200 vs $997,600)
Rent averages $1105/mo less ($1,523 vs $2,628)
78% less violent crime than Cambridge
Violent crime is well below the national average (94.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 37°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Cambridge by $52,198/yr
Higher unemployment (7.6% vs 3.3%)
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Cambridge
Median Income
$52,198
$121,539 vs $69,341/yr
Cambridge
Unemployment
4.3 pp lower
3.3% vs 7.6% unemployment
Spring Valley
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Spring Valley
Violent Crime
78% lower
94.1 vs 436.7 per 100k
Spring Valley
Median Home Value
$622k less
$375,200 vs $997,600
Spring Valley
Summer Heat
21.1°F warmer
July avg high 105.8°F vs 84.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cambridge, MA | Spring Valley, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $997,600⚠ High | $375,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,628⚠ High | $1,523⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,539 ✓ Higher | $69,341 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.2 min | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 25.1% ✓ Higher | 10.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 25 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (135) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 9.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 30.0% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 88.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cambridge | Clark County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.0°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 105.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.3" | 6.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,962 | 220,114 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.6 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 33.6% | 49.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 19.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cambridge's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Spring Valley's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Spring Valley is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Spring Valley leads 16 of 23 categories. Cambridge wins 7 and Spring Valley wins 16. 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 Spring Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($997,600 vs $375,200 median home), income ($121,539 vs $69,341), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cambridge, MA and Spring Valley, NV are about 2,375 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.