Living in Cambridge, MA
Cambridge is the 244th-largest city in the US, home to about 123,000 people in 2025. It has grown 3.5% since 2020. Prices across the metro area run above the national average (108.3 on an index where the US is 100).
- Population, 2025
- 122,588+3.5% since 2020
- Median home value
- $1,092,1008.4 years of median income
- Median rent
- $2,787/morent plus utilities
- Household income
- $130,748median, per year
- Price level
- 108.3US average = 100
- January / July highs
- 37° / 82°lows 23° / 66°
- Average commute
- 26 min31% work from home
- State income tax
- 9%top rate, graduated
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County: Middlesex County
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Elevation: about 16 ft
Metro area: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
Cost of living in Cambridge
The median home in Cambridge is worth $1,092,100 and the median household earns $130,748 a year, so a typical home costs about 8.4 years of income. Median gross rent (rent plus utilities) is $2,787 a month, about 26% of the median household's income. BEA puts overall prices in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area at 108.3, with housing at 148.4 and goods at 99.7 (US = 100). In practice, a $75,000 salary in an average-priced place stretches about as far as $81,200 here. Massachusetts taxes wages at a top rate of 9%. The average combined state and local sales tax in Massachusetts is 6.25%.
What would my salary be worth in Cambridge?
Cambridge weather
Average highs run from 37°F in January to 82°F in July, and January nights average 23°F. It gets 44 inches of rain and melted snow a year and 49 inches of snow. Nights drop below freezing about 92 times a year. The most comfortable months are May to October.
Month-by-month weather and the best time to visit Cambridge
People and work
The median resident is 30.4 years old, and 81% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. 34% of households own their home. The average one-way commute is 26 minutes; 31% of workers work from home and 18% take public transit.
- Median age
- 30.436th youngest of 546
- Bachelor's or higher
- 81%adults 25+
- Homeowners
- 34%of households
- People per sq mile
- 19,1636.4 sq mi of land
- Take transit to work
- 18%19% walk, 7.8% bike
- Unemployment
- 3.4%2020-2024 average
- Poverty rate
- 12.8%of residents
- Typical home built
- 1950median year
Who moves to Cambridge, and where people go
From farther away, newcomers most often come from New York County, NY, Los Angeles (Los Angeles County) and Chicago (Cook County). People who leave for somewhere more than 100 miles away most often head to New York County, NY, Kings County, NY and Los Angeles (Los Angeles County). See the map and full lists
IRS county-to-county migration, 2022 to 2023 tax years. Where Americans are moving.
Natural hazards, home prices and air quality
Natural hazard risk
Relatively High
FEMA rating for Middlesex County, scored against every US county. Biggest risks: ice storm, hurricane, inland flooding, strong wind.
Home prices
+2.8% in a year
Up 40% over five years. FHFA house price index for the Cambridge-Newton-Framingham, MA (MSAD) area, 2026 Q2.
Air quality, 2025
71% good days
5 days unhealthy at least for sensitive groups. EPA daily air quality index for the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH area (365 days measured).
FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025) combines expected losses from 18 natural hazards with how vulnerable and resilient the community is. It describes the county, not your street; check flood maps for a specific address at FEMA's Flood Map Service Center.
Parks and sights near Cambridge
The best-known parks, museums, zoos and landmarks within about 35 miles. Tap Been or Want to add them to your city passport.
- Fenway Park 2 miles
- Boston University 2 miles
- Northeastern University 3 miles
- Boston College 4 miles
- Harvard University in Cambridge
- Tufts University 2 miles
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge
Places from Wikidata (CC0), linked to each one's official site or Wikipedia article. Check hours and fees before you go.
Airports near Cambridge
| Airport | Distance | Passengers boarding in 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Logan International Airport BOS | 5 mi | 21,090,721 |
| Worcester Regional Airport ORH | 40 mi | 112,872 |
| Manchester-Boston Regional Airport MHT | 42 mi | 633,257 |
| Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport PVD | 48 mi | 1,984,916 |
Federal Aviation Administration, calendar year 2024 passenger boardings (enplanements) at commercial service airports. Straight-line distance.
Colleges in and near Cambridge
| College | Distance | Undergrads | Net price a year | Graduate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston University | 2 mi | 18,248 | $36,503 | 90% |
| Northeastern University | 3 mi | 17,326 | $29,060 | 91% |
| University of Massachusetts-Boston | 6 mi | 11,512 | $22,548 | 51% |
| University of Massachusetts-Lowell | 22 mi | 11,434 | $17,362 | 69% |
| Boston College | 4 mi | 10,085 | $38,930 | 90% |
| Bunker Hill Community College | 2 mi | 8,612 | $5,976 | 21% |
US Department of Education College Scorecard, October 2026 release. Net price is the average yearly cost after grants for students who get federal aid. Graduate: share finishing within 150% of normal time.
Frost dates and fall color in Cambridge
Half the years, the last spring night at 32°F comes before April 4, so plant tender crops after that date or wait a week or two to be safer. Fall color depends on the trees, but the US Department of Agriculture says the brightest leaves come with warm, sunny days and cool nights, and that frost ruins vivid color. Here, cool 36°F nights usually start around October 29 and the first frost comes around November 9.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals for Boston Logan Intl. Airport, MA, median (50%) dates. All frost dates for Cambridge.
Wildfire smoke in Cambridge
From 2021 through 2025, a smoke plume covered Cambridge on about 101 days a year, including about 23 days of medium or heavy smoke. Smoke high overhead can turn sunsets red without reaching the ground, so check the air quality reading before you change plans.
NOAA Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, daily satellite plumes over the city center, 2021 to 2025. Smoke days for every city.
Home internet in Cambridge
Census Bureau American Community Survey 2020-2024, table B28002, 49,444 households. Compare every city.
Public schools in Cambridge
Downtown Cambridge is in this district. Neighborhoods farther out may belong to a different one, so check the address with the district before you buy or rent.
| District | Grades | Students | Schools | Students per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cambridge School District | Pre-K to 12 | 7,027 | 17 | 9.4 |
Other districts within 10 miles: Boston School District (46,094 students), Lynn School District (16,364 students), Newton School District (11,632 students), Quincy School District (9,769 students), Everett School District (7,307 students), Revere School District (7,261 students).
National Center for Education Statistics, school district boundaries and characteristics, 2024-25 school year.
Cambridge's twin cities
Cities at least 250 miles away with the closest match to Cambridge's weather month by month and its costs (price level, home values and rent).
- Bethesda, MD56% matchCompare
- Reston, VA55% matchCompare
- Kirkland, WA53% matchCompare
- Redmond, WA52% matchCompare
Find a twin that is cheaper, warmer or cooler
Ski resorts near Cambridge
- Blue Hills Ski Area 11 miles
- Nashoba Valley Ski Area 21 miles
- Ski Bradford 26 miles
- Ski Ward 30 miles
Straight-line distance. All ski resorts.
Pros and cons of living in Cambridge
Data points come from the official sources on this page. Points marked Local come from people who live here, are read by a person before they appear, and are ranked by readers.
Pros
- Data 18% of workers take public transit, so living without a car is realistic.
- Data A highly educated city: 81% of adults hold a bachelor's degree.
Cons
- Data Homes are expensive for local pay: the median home costs 8.4 years of median household income.
- Data Everyday prices in the metro run 8% above the US average, mostly because of housing.
- Data Massachusetts's top income tax rate is 9%, among the highest in the country.
- Data Winters are snowy: about 49 inches a year.
Cambridge report card from locals
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Cities near Cambridge
| City | Distance | Population | Home value | Price level | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Somerville, MA | 1 mi | 84,211 | $911,300 | 108.3 | Compare |
| Boston, MA | 3 mi | 672,973 | $731,700 | 108.3 | Compare |
| Newton, MA | 5 mi | 90,741 | $1,264,900 | 108.3 | Compare |
| Quincy, MA | 9 mi | 103,173 | $618,500 | 108.3 | Compare |
| Lynn, MA | 10 mi | 104,236 | $510,100 | 108.3 | Compare |
| Brockton, MA | 21 mi | 106,134 | $437,500 | 108.3 | Compare |
Straight-line distance between city centers.
Cambridge ranks 50th of 63 in our best suburbs of Boston ranking.
Cities with a similar profile
Closest match on climate, price level, size, income and median age, outside the immediate area.
Compare Cambridge with another city
Frequently asked questions
Is Cambridge a good place to live?
It depends on what you need. The numbers show 6 comfortable months a year; the trade-offs are high prices, expensive homes relative to local incomes, heavy snow. Compare Cambridge side by side with another city to see how it stacks up for you.
What is the population of Cambridge?
The Census Bureau estimates Cambridge had 122,588 residents on July 1, 2025, compared with 118,395 in April 2020 (+3.5%).
How much do you need to earn to live in Cambridge?
Using BEA price levels, a $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $81,200 in the Cambridge area. The median household here earns $130,748.
When is the best time to visit Cambridge?
By the 1991-2020 climate normals, May to October are the most comfortable months. July averages 82°F and January 37°F for daytime highs.
What county is Cambridge in?
Cambridge is in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. Source: Census Bureau 2020 geography.
What time zone is Cambridge in?
Cambridge is on Eastern Time (UTC-5, or UTC-4 during daylight saving time from March to November).
What is the elevation of Cambridge?
Close to sea level at the city center. Elevation varies across the city.
Does Massachusetts have a state income tax?
Yes. Massachusetts has a graduated income tax with a top rate of 9% for 2026. Some cities add a local income tax, which is not included here.
Sources
Population: Census Bureau Vintage 2025 estimates (July 1, 2025). Income, housing, education and commuting: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates for the city of Cambridge. Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area. Weather: NOAA 1991-2020 normals, Boston Logan Intl. Airport, MA station. Taxes: Tax Foundation 2026. How we get our numbers.