What it's like to live in Cambridge
Cambridge is a mid-size city in Massachusetts with unemployment below the national average, household incomes running above the national average, air quality that stays clean most of the year, and a highly educated workforce. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Cambridge deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, crime rates above the national average, and cold winters.
The good
- Low unemployment
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Clean air
- Highly educated workforce
- Low student-teacher ratio
- Public transit that many commuters use
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Crime above national average
- Cold winters
- Snowy winters — 49" per year
How Cambridge compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Cambridge
Based on Cambridge's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$5,574
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $111,480 a year
- 43% of Cambridge renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$218,420
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $109,210
- Homes cost 8.4× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 97% above US
$2,787/mo median rent
Rent is expensive here, at $2,787 a month median and well above the national average. This is the kind of city where housing costs deserve serious budgeting before committing to a move. Home prices are steep, with a median around $1,092,100. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $1,092,100 · 43% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 16% below US
3.6% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.6%, a little below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 32% above US
436 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 2600/100k · Cambridge Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
26 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 25.8 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 2 in 10 workers drive to work; 18% take public transit; 31% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 82°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 22°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
2 hospitals
There are 2 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 3.5 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 124% above US
81% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
20 public schools inside the boundary
There are 20 public schools inside the boundary and 9 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 9:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Longfellow House Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site (0 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Cambridge's strongest points are unemployment below the national average and household incomes running above the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($2,787/mo) equals 26% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit remote workers (31% of workers here already work from home), people who would rather not drive, and college-educated professionals. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget.
Other places near Cambridge
All Massachusetts guides →Moving to Somerville →
1 mi away · pop. 81,036
Rent $2,517/mo · Income $132,572
Compare with Cambridge →Moving to Brookline →
3 mi away · pop. 63,266
Rent $2,835/mo · Income $142,101
Compare with Cambridge →Moving to Watertown Town →
3 mi away · pop. 35,543
Rent $2,502/mo · Income $126,265
Compare with Cambridge →Not sure Cambridge is the one?
Put it side by side with another city.