Cambridge, MA vs Durham, NC

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.

Cambridge

70.6

#1085 nationally

vs

Durham

69.4

#1213 nationally

Cambridge leads in walk score (87 vs 33). Cambridge leads in median household income ($115,892 vs $67,432). Durham leads in cost of living index (102 vs 172).

Metric-by-Metric Breakdown

Metric Cambridge, MA Durham, NC
WhereAtHome Score 70.6 (#1085) 69.4 (#1213)
Population 117,090 283,506
Typical Home Value (ZHVI) $1,055,780 $395,976
Median Household Income $115,892 $67,432
Average Commute 27.8 min 22.8 min
Walk Score 87 33
Crime Level Low Moderate
School Rating 8.4 6.4
Cost of Living Index 172 102
Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored D+39.5 D+61.9
Cambridge, MA
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 →
Durham, NC
D+
69.4 Score

Durham, NC

Bull City innovation and inclusion

Median Home

$395,976

Population

283,506

Crime

Moderate

Schools

B-

Southeast View Durham, NC →

Try a different matchup

Swap Cambridge for:

Somerville, MA vs Durham Boston, MA vs Durham Medford, MA vs Durham Everett, MA vs Durham Newton, MA vs Durham

Swap Durham for:

Chapel Hill, NC vs Cambridge Morrisville, NC vs Cambridge Carrboro, NC vs Cambridge Cary, NC vs Cambridge Apex, NC vs Cambridge

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