Living in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cost of living, income, home prices, rent and demographics of Cambridge · Census data 2020–2024
Cambridge has 118,796 residents with a median age of 30.4. The median household income is $130,748 (26% higher than the Massachusetts median), the median home value is $1,092,100, the median rent is $2,787/month.
Cambridge at a glance
- Population
- 118,796
- Median age
- 30.4State: 40
- Median household income
- $130,748State: $103,960
- Median home value
- $1,092,100State: $562,100
- Median rent
- $2,787/moState: $1,762
- Homeowners
- 33.5%
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 80.8%
- Average commute
- 26 min
Is Cambridge a good place to live?
Pros: Median household income 26% higher than the Massachusetts median; an average commute of 26 minutes; unemployment of 3.4%.
Cons: Home values 94% higher than the state median; a poverty rate of 12.8%.
The weather is best in May–June and August–September.
Cost of living in Cambridge
Housing is the biggest part of the cost of living. In Cambridge the median home value is $1,092,100, 228% higher than the U.S. median. Renters pay a median of $2,787 per month, which is 27.9% of household income. Homeowners with a mortgage pay $3,505 a month in housing costs.
Cambridge median household income
The median household income in Cambridge is $130,748 and the income per person is $78,723. 12.8% of residents live below the poverty line (Massachusetts: 10%).
Housing in Cambridge: homes for sale and rent
- Housing units
- 54,840
- Owner-occupied
- 33.5%
- Renter-occupied
- 66.5%
- Vacant
- 9.8%Includes seasonal homes
- Median year built
- 1950
- Average household size
- 2.05
Cambridge demographics
- Population
- 118,796
- Median age
- 30.4
- Under 18
- 12.4%
- 65 and older
- 12.2%
- Households
- 49,444
- Foreign-born
- 29.7%
- Veterans
- 1.6%Adults 18+
Hispanic or Latino can be of any race. Population history of Cambridge ›
Education in Cambridge
80.8% of adults 25 and older in Cambridge have a bachelor's degree or higher (Massachusetts: 47.3%), and 51.2% have a graduate or professional degree.
Jobs and commute in Cambridge
- Unemployment rate
- 3.4%State: 5.2%
- Average commute
- 26 minState: 29 min
- Work from home
- 30.8%
- Drive alone
- 19.7%
- Public transit
- 18%
- Walk to work
- 19.2%
- Homes with broadband
- 94.8%
Cambridge vs nearby towns
| Town | Population | Median income | Home value | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cambridge | 118,796 | $130,748 | $1,092,100 | $2,787 |
| Somerville | 81,036 | $132,572 | $911,300 | $2,517 |
| Watertown | 35,543 | $126,265 | $784,600 | $2,502 |
| Medford | 59,354 | $129,540 | $755,500 | $2,509 |
| Belmont | 27,175 | $183,137 | $1,159,000 | $2,527 |
| Arlington | 46,350 | $150,701 | $933,800 | $2,082 |
| Brookline | 63,266 | $142,101 | $1,246,800 | $2,835 |
| Everett | 50,045 | $85,218 | $610,000 | $2,076 |
| Chelsea | 39,908 | $72,179 | $493,500 | $1,956 |
More for people moving to Cambridge
Cambridge ZIP code ›Weather and climate ›Living in Cambridge: FAQ
What is the median household income in Cambridge, MA?
The median household income in Cambridge is $130,748, 26% higher than the Massachusetts median of $103,960 (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024).
What is the average home price in Cambridge?
The median home value in Cambridge is $1,092,100, compared with $562,100 in Massachusetts.
How much is rent in Cambridge?
The median gross rent in Cambridge is $2,787 per month, about 27.9% of household income.
Is Cambridge, MA a good place to live?
Pluses: median household income 26% higher than the Massachusetts median; an average commute of 26 minutes; unemployment of 3.4%. Minuses: home values 94% higher than the state median; a poverty rate of 12.8%.
What is the median age in Cambridge?
The median age in Cambridge is 30.4 years (Massachusetts: 40).
How long is the commute in Cambridge?
The average commute to work in Cambridge is 26 minutes; 30.8% of workers work from home.
What is the unemployment rate in Cambridge?
The unemployment rate in Cambridge is 3.4% (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024).
How educated is Cambridge?
80.8% of adults in Cambridge have a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024 (margins of error apply, especially in small towns). Figures are in 2024 dollars.
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