Cambridge, MA vs Chapel Hill, 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

Chapel Hill

68.6

#1303 nationally

Cambridge leads in walk score (87 vs 34). Chapel Hill leads in average commute (19.6 min vs 27.8 min). Cambridge leads in median household income ($115,892 vs $85,940).

Metric-by-Metric Breakdown

Metric Cambridge, MA Chapel Hill, NC
WhereAtHome Score 70.6 (#1085) 68.6 (#1303)
Population 117,090 62,043
Typical Home Value (ZHVI) $1,055,780 $636,021
Median Household Income $115,892 $85,940
Average Commute 27.8 min 19.6 min
Walk Score 87 34
Crime Level Low 4.7
School Rating 8.4 N/A
Cost of Living Index 172 133
Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored D+39.5 D+51.1
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 →
Chapel Hill, NC
D+
68.6 Score

Chapel Hill, NC

North Carolina community balancing growth and livability

Median Home

$636,021

Population

62,043

Crime

Moderate-Low

Walk Score

34

Southeast View Chapel Hill, NC →

Try a different matchup

Swap Cambridge for:

Somerville, MA vs Chapel Hill Boston, MA vs Chapel Hill Medford, MA vs Chapel Hill Everett, MA vs Chapel Hill Newton, MA vs Chapel Hill

Swap Chapel Hill for:

Carrboro, NC vs Cambridge Durham, NC vs Cambridge Morrisville, NC vs Cambridge Apex, NC vs Cambridge Mebane, NC vs Cambridge

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