Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cambridge, MA
VS
Tempe, AZ
🏆 Cambridge leads 12 of 23 categories
Cambridge
Massachusetts
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$121,539 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,962
Tempe
Arizona
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,022
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
181,005 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cambridge, MA
Pros
Households earn $49,517 more per year on average
7% less violent crime than Tempe
More college-educated — 79.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 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
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Tempe
Tempe, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $616k less ($382,100 vs $997,600)
Rent averages $1156/mo less ($1,472 vs $2,628)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 37°F
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Cambridge
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Cambridge by $49,517/yr
Violent crime (470.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2893.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 3.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cambridge
Median Income
$49,517
$121,539 vs $72,022/yr
Cambridge
Violent Crime
7% lower
436.7 vs 470.3 per 100k
Cambridge
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
3.3% vs 5.7% unemployment
Tempe
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 99.9 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Tempe
Median Home Value
$616k less
$382,100 vs $997,600
Tempe
Summer Heat
21.2°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 84.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cambridge, MA | Tempe, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 99.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $997,600⚠ High | $382,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,628⚠ High | $1,472⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,539 ✓ Higher | $72,022 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.2 min | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 25.1% ✓ Higher | 16.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (135) ✓ Better | A (125) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 9.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 93.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cambridge | Tempe School District (4258) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.0°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.3" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,962 | 181,005 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.6 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 33.6% | 40.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 14.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cambridge's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Tempe's 99.9 (US average = 100).
Tempe is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cambridge leads 12 of 23 categories. Cambridge wins 12 and Tempe wins 11. 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 Tempe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($997,600 vs $382,100 median home), income ($121,539 vs $72,022), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cambridge, MA and Tempe, AZ are about 2,287 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.