East Los Angeles vs Cambridge: Cost of Living (2026)

A side-by-side comparison of East Los Angeles, CA and Cambridge, MA, using US Census Bureau data.

MetricEast Los Angeles, CACambridge, MA
Population117,222117,962
Median household income$64,119$121,539
Median home value$582,400$997,600
Median rent (/mo)$1,369$2,628

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.

Comparing East Los Angeles, CA and Cambridge, MA comes down to what you value most. East Los Angeles has the lower median home value, and East Los Angeles has the lower median rent.

Cambridge has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.

Frequently asked questions

Is it cheaper to live in East Los Angeles or Cambridge?
By median home value, East Los Angeles is the cheaper of the two ($582,400 vs $997,600). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
Which has higher salaries, East Los Angeles or Cambridge?
Median household income is $64,119 in East Los Angeles versus $121,539 in Cambridge, per the US Census Bureau.

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