City Comparison
Cambridge vs Grants Pass
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Cambridge scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Cambridge
Grants Pass
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Grants Pass is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
39% lower than in Cambridge.
Housing costs are a major driver: Cambridge's average rent is
114% higher than Grants Pass's.
| Metric | Cambridge | Grants Pass | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $3,100 | $1,450 | +114% |
| Groceries | $520 | $450 | +16% |
| Utilities | $210 | $400 | -48% |
| Transport | $100 | $120 | -17% |
| Healthcare | $280 | $150 | +87% |
| Monthly Total | $4,210 | $2,570 | +64% |
| Cost Index | 165 | 112 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Cambridge offers 43% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Grants Pass delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Cambridge is estimated at
$85,000 vs $58,000 in Grants Pass.
| Metric | Cambridge | Grants Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $92,000 | $64,331 |
| Salary Needed | $85,000 | $58,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 55,758 idx | 57,438 idx |
| Household Income | $118,500 | $59,646 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Cambridge runs warmer on average — a 51°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Cambridge comes out ahead with 250 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Cambridge sees 25 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Cambridge | Grants Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 51.00°F | °F |
| Summer High | 80.50°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 20.60°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 40.20 in | in |
| Snowfall | 25.00 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 250 | |
| Humidity | 64.00% | 74.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Grants Pass has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
5,000 minutes (83 hours) per year compared to Cambridge.
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 | Grants Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 28 min | 18 min |
| Transit Score | 85.0/100 | 27.0/100 |
| Walkability | 91.0/100 | 40.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 58.00 | |
| Car Dependency | Low | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Cambridge is the larger city
— approximately 3x the population of Grants Pass.
From a growth perspective, Grants Pass is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Cambridge has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Cambridge | Grants Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 118,258 | 40,051 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.80% | 0.90% |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 40.8 |
| Unemployment | 3.20% | 5.60% |
| 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
Grants Pass
Advantages
Access to world-class outdoor recreation on the Rogue River, including rafting and fishing.
More sunny days and a warmer, drier climate compared to much of western Oregon.
Housing is comparatively more affordable than larger West Coast cities and some other Oregon metros.
A growing arts and food scene in a walkable, historic downtown.
Friendly community atmosphere appealing to families and retirees.
Drawbacks
Overall crime rate is significantly higher than the national average, particularly due to property crime.
Limited high-wage job opportunities compared to larger economic centers.
Air quality can be impacted by wildfire smoke during certain seasons.
Presence of a significant homeless population in the downtown core.
High car dependency due to minimal public transportation options.
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
Grants Pass
#584Oregon, USA
45.2 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,450
Avg Salary
$64,331
Cost Index
112
Commute
18 min
Transit Score
27.0/100
Walkability
40.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.90%
Unemployment
5.60%
Livability
70
Business
60
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