Berkeley, CA vs Cambridge, MA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Berkeley
59.6
#1947 nationally
Cambridge
70.6
#1085 nationally
Cambridge leads in cost of living index (172 vs 222). Cambridge leads in median household income ($115,892 vs $104,716). Cambridge leads in average commute (27.8 min vs 30.4 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Berkeley, CA | Cambridge, MA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 59.6 (#1947) | 70.6 (#1085) |
| Population | 118,962 | 117,090 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $1,460,437 | $1,055,780 |
| Median Household Income | $104,716 | $115,892 |
| Average Commute | 30.4 min | 27.8 min |
| Walk Score | 85 | 87 |
| Crime Level | 17.5 | Low |
| School Rating | N/A | 8.4 |
| Cost of Living Index | 222 | 172 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+53.6 | D+39.5 |
F
59.6 Score
Berkeley, CA
Mid-size California city with community character
Median Home
$1,460,437
Population
118,962
Crime
High
Walk Score
85
Pacific
View Berkeley, CA →
C-
70.6 Score
Cambridge, MA
Academic powerhouse across the Charles
Median Home
$1,055,780
Population
117,090
Crime
Low
Schools
A
Northeast
View Cambridge, MA →