Cambridge, Massachusetts
Among the top 5% of US places for getting around.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade D, better than 17% of US places
WeatherWeather: grade C, better than 30% of US places
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade B, better than 67% of US places
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade A, better than 95% of US places
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade B, better than 55% of US places
- top 1% for walkability
- top 1% for airport distance
- bottom 2% for cost of living
Cambridge is a city in Massachusetts with about 118,000 residents. It grades A for getting around and D for affordability. Standout strengths include walkability, airport distance, and natural disaster risk. It rates lower on monthly rent and cost of living.
Official websitecambridgema.gov (opens in new tab)
Climate
Warm summers · Cold winters · Moderate rain · Heavy snow
very cold
cold
cool
comf.
warm
comf.
cool
cold
v.cold
56%44%clearovercast
Precipitation 4.3 in3.9 in
humid 99%dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$122k92nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$82kbetter than 2% of US places
Home Value$998k98th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$3kbetter than 2% of US places
Monthly Owner Costs$3kbetter than 5% of US places
Property Tax Rate0.45%better than 92% of US places
Income Tax9.00%better than 17% of US places
Sales Tax6.25%better than 81% of US places
Estimated total tax burden14.72%better than 18% of US places
Unemployment3.3%better than 55% of US places
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)29°F37th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)74°F34th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation49.3 in76th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall49.2 inbetter than 14% of US places
Sunny Days181 daysbetter than 9% of US places
Summer Humidity62°Fbetter than 64% of US places
Comfortable Days97 daysbetter than 82% of US places
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk20.9better than 95% of US places
Air Quality45 AQIbetter than 57% of US places
School Quality100.0better than 93% of US places
Violent Crime1147/100kbetter than 29% of US places
Property Crime2240/100kbetter than 15% of US places
Community
Population117,96299th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age30.610th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.5993rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio1.0156th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningD+641st percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)56.0%21st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)10.3%84th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)8.7%70th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)19.2%98th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)5.8%76th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time26 minbetter than 48% of US places
Walkability16.1/20better than 99% of US places
Airport Distance5 mibetter than 99% of US places
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access92.8%better than 75% of US places
Amenities Nearby263.39better than 74% of US places
Park & Nature AccessLimitedbetter than 11% of US places
Similar places
Frequently asked questions
- Is Cambridge an affordable place to live?
- Cambridge is relatively expensive. Its cost-of-living index is $82k, better than 2% of comparable areas.
- What is the median home value in Cambridge?
- The median home value in Cambridge is $998k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- What is the median household income in Cambridge?
- Median household income in Cambridge is $122k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- How much is rent in Cambridge?
- Median gross rent in Cambridge is $3k a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Is Cambridge safe?
- Cambridge is higher-crime than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 1147/100k (better than 29%). Property crime is 2240/100k.
- What is the weather like in Cambridge?
- Cambridge averages 74°F in July and 29°F in January, with 49.3 in of annual precipitation and about 181 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Cambridge?
- Public-school quality in Cambridge is above average, scoring better than 93% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Cambridge?
- The average one-way commute in Cambridge is 26 min.
Other places in Suffolk County
Places near Cambridge
Compare Cambridge
Explore Massachusetts
Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)