Population

Cambridge

117,794

Berkeley

120,223

Median Income

Cambridge

$126,469

Berkeley

$108,558

Home Value

Cambridge

$1,040,500

Berkeley

$1,351,100

Rent

Cambridge

$2,742

Berkeley

$2,127

Crime Rate

Cambridge

4.37

Berkeley

6.40

Cost of Living

Cambridge

230.9

Berkeley

233.6

Avg Temp

Cambridge

N/A

Berkeley

N/A

Unemployment

Cambridge

3.4%

Berkeley

6.0%

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How Similar Are Cambridge & Berkeley?

Berkeley is Cambridge's #20 most similar city

3/10

3 of 10 key metrics match within 10%

Population

👥

Cambridge

117,794

vs

Berkeley

120,223

Match · 2% difference

Both cities have similar populations — Cambridge at 117,794 and Berkeley at 120,223.

Violent Crime

Cambridge

4.37

vs

Berkeley

6.40

Different · 32% difference
🚨

Berkeley has a 32% higher violent crime than Cambridge.

Property Crime

🔒

Cambridge

26.44

vs

Berkeley

52.29

Different · 49% difference

Berkeley has a 49% higher property crime than Cambridge.

Political Leaning

Cambridge

29.0%

vs

Berkeley

21.0%

Different · 28% difference
🗳️

Both cities lean Democratic, but Cambridge has a stronger Democratic lean (28% difference).

Unemployment

💼

Cambridge

3.4%

vs

Berkeley

6.0%

Different · 44% difference

Berkeley has a 44% higher unemployment than Cambridge.

Median Income

Cambridge

$126,469

vs

Berkeley

$108,558

Different · 14% difference
💰

Cambridge has a 14% higher median income than Berkeley.

Home Values

🏠

Cambridge

$1,040,500

vs

Berkeley

$1,351,100

Different · 23% difference

Berkeley has a 23% higher home values than Cambridge.

Education

Cambridge

54.1%

vs

Berkeley

47.7%

Different · 12% difference
🎓

Cambridge has a 12% higher education than Berkeley.

Demographics

🌍

Cambridge

57.5%

vs

Berkeley

54.8%

Match · 5% difference

Both cities have similar demographics — just a 5% difference.

Cost of Living

Cambridge

230.9

vs

Berkeley

233.6

Match · 1% difference
💵

Both cities have similar cost of living — just a 1% difference.

3 out of 10 key metrics match within 10%. Cambridge and Berkeley differ in most key areas.

At a Glance

0

Cambridge

vsof 8

0

Berkeley

Cambridge leads in 4 of 8 categories

Cost of Living & Affordability — Berkeley leads

Source: City Stats Index / HUD

Berkeley scores 133.0 on the food index (100 = national avg) vs 146.7 in Cambridge. Berkeley scores 126.4 on the healthcare index (100 = national avg) vs 137.3 in Cambridge. Cambridge scores 368.2 on the housing index (100 = national avg) vs 400.0 in Berkeley.

Overall Cost Index

Cambridge230.9
Berkeley233.6

Housing Index

Cambridge368.2
Berkeley400.0

Food Index

Cambridge146.7
Berkeley133.0

Transportation Index

Cambridge127.9
Berkeley121.0

Healthcare Index

Cambridge137.3
Berkeley126.4

Utilities Index

Cambridge181.6
Berkeley179.8

Living Wage (1 Adult)

Cambridge$101,609
Berkeley$102,784

Living Wage (Family of 4)

Cambridge$240,167
Berkeley$242,945

Fair Market Rent (1BR)

Cambridge$2,476
Berkeley$2,385

Fair Market Rent (2BR)

Cambridge$2,941
Berkeley$2,912

Housing Market — Berkeley leads

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Berkeley has a single-family homes of 44.0% compared to 16.4% in Cambridge. Cambridge has a median property tax of $4,472 vs $10,001 in Berkeley (55% lower). Berkeley has a median rent of $2,127 vs $2,742 in Cambridge (29% lower).

Median Home Value

Cambridge$1,040,500
Berkeley$1,351,100

Median Rent

Cambridge$2,742
Berkeley$2,127

Median Property Tax

Cambridge$4,472
Berkeley$10,001

Owner-Occupied

Cambridge33.7%
Berkeley43.3%

Vacancy Rate

Cambridge9.2%
Berkeley10.3%

Single-Family Homes

Cambridge16.4%
Berkeley44.0%

Jobs & Economy — Cambridge leads

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Cambridge has a unemployment rate of 3.4% compared to 6.0% in Berkeley. Cambridge has a poverty rate of 12.4% compared to 16.8% in Berkeley. Cambridge has a government sector of 45.0% compared to 36.1% in Berkeley.

Median Household Income

Cambridge$126,469
Berkeley$108,558

Per Capita Income

Cambridge$76,789
Berkeley$66,936

Poverty Rate

Cambridge12.4%
Berkeley16.8%

Unemployment Rate

Cambridge3.4%
Berkeley6.0%

Labor Force

Cambridge73,004
Berkeley66,168

Mean Commute

Cambridge19 min
Berkeley20 min

Work from Home

Cambridge28.3%
Berkeley32.5%

Private Sector

Cambridge81.8%
Berkeley80.5%

Government Sector

Cambridge45.0%
Berkeley36.1%

Crime & Safety — Cambridge leads

Source: FBI UCR

Cambridge has a murder rate (per 1k) of 0.00 compared to 0.06 in Berkeley. Cambridge has a burglary rate (per 1k) of 2.37 compared to 6.61 in Berkeley. Cambridge has a robbery rate (per 1k) of 0.91 compared to 1.87 in Berkeley.

Violent Crime Rate (per 1K)

Cambridge4.37
Berkeley6.40

Property Crime Rate (per 1K)

Cambridge26.44
Berkeley52.29

Murder Rate (per 1K)

Cambridge0.00
Berkeley0.06

Robbery Rate (per 1K)

Cambridge0.91
Berkeley1.87

Assault Rate (per 1K)

Cambridge3.11
Berkeley4.00

Burglary Rate (per 1K)

Cambridge2.37
Berkeley6.61

Larceny Rate (per 1K)

Cambridge23.23
Berkeley36.56

Violent Crime Clearance

Cambridge43.5%
Berkeley36.1%

Property Crime Clearance

Cambridge11.1%
Berkeley8.6%

Weather & Climate

Source: NOAA / Open-Meteo

Avg Annual Temperature

CambridgeN/A
BerkeleyN/A

Avg Annual High

CambridgeN/A
BerkeleyN/A

Avg Annual Low

CambridgeN/A
BerkeleyN/A

Sunny Days per Year

CambridgeN/A
BerkeleyN/A

Annual Rainfall

CambridgeN/A
BerkeleyN/A

Annual Snowfall

CambridgeN/A
BerkeleyN/A

Avg Humidity

CambridgeN/A
BerkeleyN/A

Schools & Education — Cambridge leads

Source: NCES / U.S. Census Bureau

Cambridge has a bachelor's degree or higher of 54.1% compared to 47.7% in Berkeley. Cambridge has a high school diploma or higher of 58.1% compared to 51.9% in Berkeley.

Public Schools

Cambridge0
Berkeley0

Avg Student-Teacher Ratio

CambridgeN/A
BerkeleyN/A

Colleges & Universities

Cambridge0
Berkeley0

Bachelor's Degree or Higher

Cambridge54.1%
Berkeley47.7%

High School Diploma or Higher

Cambridge58.1%
Berkeley51.9%

Demographics & Community

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Berkeley has a population of 120,223, about 1x the size of Cambridge (117,794). Cambridge skews younger with a median age of 30.5 vs 32.9.

Population

Cambridge117,794
Berkeley120,223

Median Age

Cambridge31
Berkeley33

Avg Household Size

Cambridge2.1
Berkeley2.3

Married Population

Cambridge29.4%
Berkeley31.8%

Foreign Born

Cambridge28.8%
Berkeley21.3%

White

Cambridge57.5%
Berkeley54.8%

Black

Cambridge10.5%
Berkeley7.4%

Hispanic

Cambridge8.9%
Berkeley12.1%

Asian

Cambridge19.7%
Berkeley20.7%

Cambridge

Berkeley

Healthcare

Source: CMS Hospital Compare

Cambridge: 4.3 vs Berkeley: 3.3 for avg cms rating (out of 5). Berkeley: 5 vs Cambridge: 4 for with emergency services.

Nearby Hospitals

Cambridge5
Berkeley5

Avg CMS Rating (out of 5)

Cambridge4.3
Berkeley3.3

With Emergency Services

Cambridge4
Berkeley5

Transportation & Commute — Cambridge leads

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Cambridge has a bicycle of 7.3% compared to 4.8% in Berkeley. Berkeley has a drive alone of 27.4% compared to 20.9% in Cambridge. Cambridge has a public transit of 19.4% compared to 15.8% in Berkeley.

Mean Commute Time

Cambridge19 min
Berkeley20 min

Drive Alone

Cambridge20.9%
Berkeley27.4%

Public Transit

Cambridge19.4%
Berkeley15.8%

Bicycle

Cambridge7.3%
Berkeley4.8%

Work from Home

Cambridge28.3%
Berkeley32.5%

Airports

Cambridge0
Berkeley0

Cities Similar to Cambridge, MA

Compare Cambridge against its closest statistical matches across demographics, income, crime, health, and more.

🧬

City Comparison

8-axis fingerprint: population, income, housing, crime, education, age, climate, and cost of living. Click legend items to toggle.

PopulationIncomeHome ValueSafetyEducationMedian AgeClimateCost of Living

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