Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cambridge, MA
VS
West Jordan, UT
🏆 West Jordan 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
West Jordan
Utah
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$99,002
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
116,383
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 $22,537 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (3.3%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 94°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
Cost of living runs 13% higher than West Jordan
Property crime (2644.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
West Jordan, UT
Pros
Homes cost $586k less ($412,100 vs $997,600)
Rent averages $1139/mo less ($1,489 vs $2,628)
33% less violent crime than Cambridge
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Cambridge
Cons
Median income trails Cambridge by $22,537/yr
Higher unemployment (4.2% vs 3.3%)
Snowy winters — about 56" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Cambridge
Median Income
$22,537
$121,539 vs $99,002/yr
Cambridge
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
3.3% vs 4.2% unemployment
West Jordan
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 98.5 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
West Jordan
Violent Crime
33% lower
294.2 vs 436.7 per 100k
West Jordan
Median Home Value
$586k less
$412,100 vs $997,600
West Jordan
Summer Heat
8.8°F warmer
July avg high 93.5°F vs 84.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cambridge, MA | West Jordan, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 98.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $997,600⚠ High | $412,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,628⚠ High | $1,489⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,539 ✓ Higher | $99,002 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 4.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.2 min | 24.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 25.1% ✓ Higher | 15.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (135) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 9.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 27.8% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 91.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cambridge | Jordan District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.0°F | 40.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 93.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.3" | 20.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" ✓ Less | 55.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,962 ✓ Larger | 116,383 |
| Median Age | 30.6 | 32.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 33.6% | 77.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 28.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% ✓ More | 8.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cambridge's cost of living index is 111.6 vs West Jordan's 98.5 (US average = 100).
West Jordan is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, West Jordan leads 13 of 23 categories. Cambridge wins 10 and West Jordan 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 West Jordan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($997,600 vs $412,100 median home), income ($121,539 vs $99,002), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cambridge, MA and West Jordan, UT are about 2,099 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.