Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cambridge, MA
VS
Tracy, CA
🏆 Tracy 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
Population
117,962 ✓ Larger
Tracy
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$111,717
Violent Crime Index
79 ✓ Safer
Population
94,027
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
Commutes run 17 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (3.3%)
Households earn $9,822 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 93°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)
Tracy, CA
Pros
Homes cost $380k less ($617,300 vs $997,600)
31% less violent crime than Cambridge
Rent averages $466/mo less ($2,162 vs $2,628)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 37°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Cambridge
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 3.3%)
Median income trails Cambridge by $9,822/yr
Longer commutes — 43.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Cambridge
Median Income
$9,822
$121,539 vs $111,717/yr
Cambridge
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.3% vs 5.4% unemployment
Tracy
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 107.4 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Tracy
Violent Crime
31% lower
301.4 vs 436.7 per 100k
Tracy
Median Home Value
$380k less
$617,300 vs $997,600
Tracy
Summer Heat
8.5°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 84.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cambridge, MA | Tracy, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 107.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $997,600⚠ High | $617,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,628⚠ High | $2,162⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,539 ✓ Higher | $111,717 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.2 min ✓ Shorter | 43.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 25.1% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (135) ✓ Better | C- (71) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 9.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cambridge | Jefferson Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.0°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.3" | 12.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,962 ✓ Larger | 94,027 |
| Median Age | 30.6 | 34.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 33.6% | 64.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% ✓ More | 9.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cambridge's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Tracy's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Tracy is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tracy leads 13 of 23 categories. Cambridge wins 10 and Tracy 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 Tracy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($997,600 vs $617,300 median home), income ($121,539 vs $111,717), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cambridge, MA and Tracy, CA are about 2,642 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.