Cambridge, MA vs Oak Park, IL

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

Oak Park

71.1

#1024 nationally

Oak Park leads in cost of living index (127 vs 172). Cambridge leads in average commute (27.8 min vs 33.4 min). Cambridge leads in median household income ($115,892 vs $103,264).

Metric-by-Metric Breakdown

Metric Cambridge, MA Oak Park, IL
WhereAtHome Score 70.6 (#1085) 71.1 (#1024)
Population 117,090 52,055
Typical Home Value (ZHVI) $1,055,780 $489,829
Median Household Income $115,892 $103,264
Average Commute 27.8 min 33.4 min
Walk Score 87 78
Crime Level Low 8.9
School Rating 8.4 N/A
Cost of Living Index 172 127
Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored D+39.5 D+42.0
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 →
Oak Park, IL
C-
71.1 Score

Oak Park, IL

Illinois community balancing growth and livability

Median Home

$489,829

Population

52,055

Crime

Moderate

Walk Score

78

Midwest View Oak Park, IL →

Try a different matchup

Swap Cambridge for:

Somerville, MA vs Oak Park Boston, MA vs Oak Park Medford, MA vs Oak Park Everett, MA vs Oak Park Newton, MA vs Oak Park

Swap Oak Park for:

Elmwood Park, IL vs Cambridge Maywood, IL vs Cambridge Melrose Park, IL vs Cambridge Berwyn, IL vs Cambridge Cicero, IL vs Cambridge

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