City Comparison
Cambridge vs Newton
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Newton scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Cambridge
Newton
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Newton is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
7% lower than in Cambridge.
| Metric | Cambridge | Newton | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $3,100 | $2,850 | +9% |
| Groceries | $520 | $520 | 0% |
| Utilities | $210 | $210 | 0% |
| Transport | $100 | $130 | -23% |
| Healthcare | $280 | $220 | +27% |
| Monthly Total | $4,210 | $3,930 | +7% |
| Cost Index | 165 | 158 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Cambridge offers similar average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Newton delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Cambridge is estimated at
$85,000 vs $78,000 in Newton.
| Metric | Cambridge | Newton |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $92,000 | $92,000 |
| Salary Needed | $85,000 | $78,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 55,758 idx | 58,228 idx |
| Household Income | $118,500 | $160,411 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0.3°F of each other.
Winter severity differs too — Newton sees 1.4 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Cambridge | Newton |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 51.00°F | 50.70°F |
| Summer High | 80.50°F | 80.80°F |
| Winter Low | 20.60°F | 19.60°F |
| Rainfall | 40.20 in | 40.50 in |
| Snowfall | 25.00 in | 26.40 in |
| Sunny Days | 250 | 249 |
| Humidity | 64.00% | 65.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 2 minutes of each other.
Cambridge scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Cambridge leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Cambridge | Newton |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 28 min | 30 min |
| Transit Score | 85.0/100 | 68.0/100 |
| Walkability | 91.0/100 | 64.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 58.00 | 52.00 |
| Car Dependency | Low | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Cambridge is the larger city
— approximately 1.3x the population of Newton.
From a growth perspective, Cambridge is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Newton has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Cambridge | Newton |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 118,258 | 88,287 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.80% | 0.50% |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 42.5 |
| Unemployment | 3.20% | 3.10% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Cambridge
Advantages
World-class public transit and pedestrian infrastructure with a Walk Score over 90 per Redfin 2025 data
Global epicenter for biotechnology and life sciences careers centered around Kendall Square per BLS 2025 reports
Home to two top-tier global universities (Harvard and MIT) driving an intellectually vibrant cultural scene
Exceptionally low violent crime rate relative to national urban averages per FBI crime data 2025
Extensive green spaces, including miles of accessible waterfront along the Charles River Esplanade
Drawbacks
Extremely high cost of living, with average rents exceeding 3,000 USD per Zillow 2025 market reports
Severe housing shortage and hyper-competitive real estate market driving up purchase prices
Heavy traffic congestion and limited street parking for vehicle owners
State and local tax burdens that trend higher than the national average
Significant seasonal population fluctuations driven by the academic calendar
Newton
Advantages
Newton Public Schools consistently rank among the top-performing school districts in Massachusetts.
Exceptional public safety with violent and property crime rates well below the national average.
Unmatched geographic convenience with direct MBTA rail access and proximity to downtown Boston.
Abundant green spaces, parks, and recreational bodies of water like Crystal Lake and Hammond Pond.
Thriving local village centers offering boutique shopping, diverse dining, and active community life.
Drawbacks
Significantly high cost of living and median home purchase prices exceeding one million dollars.
Heavy rush hour traffic congestion along major commuter corridors like I-90 and Route 128.
High property tax burdens associated with funding top-tier municipal services and schools.
Fiercely competitive housing market with limited rental and starter-home inventory.
Strict zoning and historic preservation regulations can make residential renovations challenging.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Cambridge
#424Massachusetts, USA
57.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$3,100
Avg Salary
$92,000
Cost Index
165
Commute
28 min
Transit Score
85.0/100
Walkability
91.0/100
Sunny Days
250/yr
Avg Temp
51.00°F
Pop. Growth
0.80%
Unemployment
3.20%
Livability
88
Business
92
Newton
#334Massachusetts, USA
60.2 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$2,850
Avg Salary
$92,000
Cost Index
158
Commute
30 min
Transit Score
68.0/100
Walkability
64.0/100
Sunny Days
249/yr
Avg Temp
50.70°F
Pop. Growth
0.50%
Unemployment
3.10%
Livability
92
Business
82
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