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Living in
Somerville.
About
Life in Somerville
Somerville attracts people looking for urban density and walkability near Boston without the highest price tag of Cambridge or the city itself—though median rents of $2,517 monthly and home values around $900,000 make it expensive by most standards. You'll find a young, educated population (median age 31, 68 percent with college degrees) concentrated in transit-oriented neighborhoods like Davis Square and Union Square, with good access to the Red Line subway and employment hubs at Mass General Brigham and growing tech offices at Assembly Row. The city has genuine character: a thriving arts scene with the second-highest artists per capita in America, live music venues, an annual Porchfest with 200 bands, and quirky events like the Fluff Festival celebrating the local invention of Marshmallow Fluff.
Somerville at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
31.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
9.8%
Foreign-Born
24.0%
Broadband Internet
94.7%
of households
Population Growth
+4.0%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics24.0% foreign-born, most often from Brazil
Who lives in Somerville: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Somerville, the largest foreign-born group is from Brazil (11.7%), and 9.4% of residents speak Other Indo-European at home.
Under 18
9.8%
of residents
65 and Older
10.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
14.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
32.6%
of households
Married Couples
29.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.19
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 43% above MA average
Rent, home values, and income in Somerville
In Somerville, rent runs 43% above the MA average, and home values are 62% above the MA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
35.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
16.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
108.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$6,186
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
34.2%
of occupied homes are owned
Vacant Homes
5.4%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $920,007 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1 pts below MA average
Unemployment in Somerville
Unemployment in Somerville is 1 percentage points lower than the MA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Somerville Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute31 min avg
How Somerville residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Somerville, most residents work from home to work (31%), and 44% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 5 mi
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Major hub21.0M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 41% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Somerville runs 41% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
194.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,580.5
per 100,000 residents
About average (1,552 national, 2025)
Somerville Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 16 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
96.9 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Middlesex County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Middlesex County, which includes Somerville, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 16 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $73,400 |
| 2024 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $23,700 |
| 2023 | 29 | Flood | $99,100 |
| 2022 | 26 | Thunderstorm Wind | $111,000 |
| 2021 | 28 | Strong Wind | $583,500 |
| 2020 | 52 | Strong Wind | $552,300 |
| 2019 | 27 | Strong Wind | $263,750 |
| 2018 | 40 | Flood | $526,500 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Middlesex County, county-wide
Somerville is about 5% of Middlesex County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality38 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Middlesex County, which includes Somerville, is typically good — 299 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
38
Good Days
299
per year
Moderate Days
65
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Middlesex County, county-wide
Somerville is about 5% of Middlesex County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate80°F summers, 26°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Somerville has mild summers (avg high 80°F) and cold winters (avg low 26°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
56°/41°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
80°/64°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
62°/48°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
39°/26°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
49.3"
Annual Snowfall
49.2"
Hot Days/Year
14
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
92
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
128
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 37°F | 23°F | 3.39" |
| Feb | 39°F | 25°F | 3.21" |
| Mar | 46°F | 31°F | 4.17" |
| Apr | 56°F | 41°F | 3.63" |
| May | 67°F | 50°F | 3.25" |
| Jun | 76°F | 60°F | 3.89" |
| Jul | 82°F | 66°F | 3.27" |
| Aug | 80°F | 65°F | 3.23" |
| Sep | 73°F | 58°F | 3.56" |
| Oct | 62°F | 48°F | 4.03" |
| Nov | 52°F | 38°F | 3.66" |
| Dec | 42°F | 29°F | 4.30" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Somerville
Uninsured
1.9%
of residents
No hospitals inside Somerville's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Cambridge Health Alliance
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 1.2 mi away · Cambridge
Mount Auburn Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2 mi away · Cambridge
Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary -
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.5 mi away · Boston
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education11.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Somerville
Somerville's student/teacher ratio is 11.3:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 69.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
11
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
69.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Somerville (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 18,248 students · in-state tuition $71,372 · 89% graduate · median earnings $89,087 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 17,326 students · in-state tuition $69,289 · 91% graduate · median earnings $99,371 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Massachusetts-Boston
6.3 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 11,512 students · in-state tuition $16,558 · 62% graduate · median earnings $70,597 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 10,085 students · in-state tuition $73,508 · 91% graduate · median earnings $112,178 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 8,612 students · in-state tuition $6,288 · 22% graduate · median earnings $51,734 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 7,601 students · in-state tuition $64,796 · 98% graduate · median earnings $121,957 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Longfellow House Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site, 2 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Somerville
Somerville has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Longfellow House Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site (2 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Longfellow House Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site
National Historic Site
2 mi awayBoston African American National Historic Site
National Historic Site
3 mi awayBoston National Historical Park
National Historical Park
3 mi awayJohn Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site
National Historic Site
3 mi awayFrederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site
National Historic Site
5 mi awaySaugus Iron Works National Historic Site
National Historic Site
7 mi awayAdams National Historical Park
National Historical Park
10 mi awayBoston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
10 mi awayPublic Libraries in Somerville
Somerville Public Library
79 Highland Avenue, Somerville
East Branch Library
115 Broadway, Somerville
West Branch Library
40 College Avenue, Somerville
Cities Near Somerville
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Somerville?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Somerville FAQ
Is Somerville, Massachusetts affordable?⌄
Somerville's median rent is $2,517/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $132,572/year. Median home value is $911,300.
Is Somerville, Massachusetts safe?⌄
Somerville's violent crime rate was 195 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1581 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Somerville, Massachusetts?⌄
Somerville has an unemployment rate of 3.5%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Somerville, Massachusetts?⌄
The cost of living in Somerville is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,517/month and median household income is $132,572/year. The median home value is $911,300. About 35% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Somerville, Massachusetts?⌄
The average commute in Somerville is 31 minutes, which is longer than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from