Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching Cambridge, MA.
MapsToIt planning snapshot
How much does it cost to live in Cambridge, MA?
Cambridge planning snapshot: population 121,186, housing index 273 (well above the U.S. housing-cost baseline), median home $1,040,500, median rent $2,742, and income near $126,469. Expect 80°F summer highs, 26°F winter lows, and about 28-minute one-way commutes. Violent-offense rates run about 278.5 per 100k (catalog avg 559.5).
Crime figures may use an older source vintage than housing and income on this page.
- Housing cost index
- 273U.S. avg 100
- Median home value
- $1,040,500U.S. $303,400
- Median rent
- $2,742U.S. $1,348
- Median income
- $126,469U.S. $78,538
- Unemployment
- 4.3%U.S. 4.2%
- Avg commute
- 28 minCatalog avg 25 min
- Violent crime
- 278.5per 100k · catalog avg 559.5
- Summer high
- 80°FCatalog avg 87°F
Key figures
Each metric shows how Cambridge compares with a U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals) or a MapsToIt catalog average (crime, climate, and commute). Income, housing, population, and crime are for the incorporated city (city limits), not the broader metro/MSA — unemployment is county-level (BLS LAUS).
- Population
- 121,186City limits · Census PEP 2024 estimate
As of 2026-10-19 · Census PEP 2024 - Median household income
- $126,469Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year61% above U.S. avgU.S. $78,538 - Housing cost index
- 273ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year173% above U.S. avgU.S. 100 - Median home value
- $1,040,500City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year243% above U.S. avgU.S. $303,400 - Median rent
- $2,742City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year103% above U.S. avgU.S. $1,348 - Unemployment
- 4.3%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-10-19 · July 2026Near U.S. rate (4.2%)U.S. 4.2% - Avg commute
- 28 min12% above catalog avgCatalog avg 25 min
- Walk Score
- 8793% above catalog avgCatalog avg 45
- Violent crime rate
- 278.5per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback) · older data (2019)50% below catalog avgCatalog avg 559.5 - Property crime rate
- 1653.8per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback) · older data (2019)45% below catalog avgCatalog avg 3005.3 - Summer high
- 80°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals7.0 pts below catalog avgCatalog avg 87°F
- Winter low
- 26°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals9.0 pts below catalog avgCatalog avg 35°F
- Annual rainfall
- 43.6 inAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals31% above catalog avgCatalog avg 33.2 in
- Sunny days
- 237As of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals12% below catalog avgCatalog avg 268
Population trend
Cambridge grew 15.4% from 105,008 in 2010 to 121,186 in 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024). Playback steps monthly between annual Census PEP estimates.
Is Cambridge, MA expensive compared to the U.S. average?
Cambridge's housing cost index is 273 versus 100 nationally — well above the U.S. housing-cost baseline. That gap is driven mainly by ACS median home values ($1,040,500 vs $303,400) and rents ($2,742 vs $1,348).
- Housing cost index 273 (U.S. 100)
- Median home $1,040,500 vs U.S. $303,400
- Median rent $2,742 vs U.S. $1,348
How much does housing cost in Cambridge, MA?
Typical ownership costs center near $1,040,500, while median gross rent is about $2,742 a month. Against a median household income of $126,469, rent alone is roughly 26% of income on an annualized basis.
- Median home value $1,040,500
- Median rent $2,742/month
- Median household income $126,469
What is the job market like in Cambridge, MA?
County unemployment recently ran 4.3% versus a U.S. rate of 4.2%. Median household income in Cambridge is about $126,469 (U.S. $78,538).
- Unemployment 4.3% (U.S. 4.2%)
- Median income $126,469
How long is the typical commute in Cambridge, MA?
Average one-way commute time is about 28 minutes, with Walk Score near 87/100. The catalog-city average commute is 25 minutes.
- 28 minutes average one-way
- Walk Score 87/100
Is Cambridge, MA safer than similar U.S. cities?
Published violent-offense rates are about 278.5 per 100k and property about 1653.8 per 100k, versus catalog averages of 559.5 and 3005.3. Citywide rates hide large neighborhood differences.
- Violent 278.5 per 100k
- Property 1653.8 per 100k
What is the climate like year-round in Cambridge, MA?
Normals show summer highs near 80°F, winter lows near 26°F, about 43.6 inches of rain, and roughly 237 sunny days a year.
- Summer high 80°F
- Winter low 26°F
- 43.6 in rain · 237 sunny days
Which neighborhoods do relocators research in Cambridge, MA?
Newcomers often start with Harvard Square, Kendall Square, Central Square — tour at commute hour before signing. Neighborhood lists are curated research starting points, not rankings.
- Harvard Square
- Kendall Square
- Central Square
Four sharp seasons and a dense education/biotech corridor drive demand. Expect summer highs near 80°F and winter lows around 26°F. Average one-way commute time is about 28 minutes, and Walk Score estimates land around 87/100. Labor-market readings near 4.3% unemployment are neither boom nor bust by national standards. Violent-offense rates around 278.5 per 100k are moderate for a large U.S. city, with meaningful variation by neighborhood.
Cambridge (pop. 121,186) sits in Massachusetts. With median income around $126,469 and a cost index of 273, the market reads well above the national housing-cost baseline. Ownership is a high bar — typical values near $1,040,500 push many newcomers toward renting first.
Newcomers often start housing searches in Harvard Square and Kendall Square, then compare against Central Square once a commute target is clear. Figures on this page are merged from Census ACS, BLS LAUS, FBI crime figures, and NOAA Climate Normals — use them to compare Cambridge with nearby alternatives before you relocate.
Neighborhoods often researched
- Harvard Square
- Kendall Square
- Central Square
Nearby & similar cities
Continue researching with these internal links — each page is a full data profile.
Sources
- Census / ACS: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year (Cambridge city, 1600000US2511000) — As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year
- BLS: BLS LAUS · Middlesex County, July 2026 — As of 2026-10-19 · July 2026
- Crime: FBI CIUS Table 8 (2019), city offenses per 100k — As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)
- Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00014739 BOSTON LOGAN INTL AP) — As of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals
- Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024) — As of 2026-10-19 · Census PEP 2024
Catalog refreshed 2026-10-19
Canonical profile · All Massachusetts cities · Full city index