The Town FilesCambridge, Massachusetts
City in Middlesex County · population 118,403 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $1,092,100
- Household income
- $130,748
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 49 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 30.4
Cambridge is a city of 118,403 people in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $1,092,100, above the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks better for young professionals than 100% of Massachusetts towns, more vibrant than 100% of Massachusetts towns, hipper than 100% of Massachusetts towns.
How Cambridge ranks
Percentile among Massachusetts towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Cambridge is worth $1,092,100, above the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 8.4 times the median household income of $130,748, which is more affordable than 4% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $2,787 a month. 33.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Cambridge | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $1,092,100 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $2,787 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $130,748 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 8.4× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 33.5% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1950 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.3% | — |
Who lives in Cambridge
| People | Cambridge | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 30.4 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.2% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 12.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 80.8% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.8% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 1.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 29.7% | — |
| Work from home | 30.8% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 25.8 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.8% | 93.9% |
Weather in Cambridge
July highs average 84.7°F and January lows 19.4°F. About 49.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 49.2 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 20 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 121 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cambridge since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on July 28, 2014 about 5.2 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 12 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 28, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 42 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on August 4, 2015.
Severe weather in Middlesex County since 1996
Middlesex County has been included in 35 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 15, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3599: Hurricane Lee |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4496: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3438: Covid-19 |
| July 19, 2018 | Snowstorm | DR-4379: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| April 13, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4214: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Middlesex County
Middlesex County had 926,104 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $113,704 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Cambridge itself the ACS puts it at 3.4%.
Public schools in Cambridge
23 public schools with 8,914 students, about 9.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cambridge Rindge and Latin | 9-12 | 1,979 | 9.1 |
| Prospect Hill Academy Charter School (charter) | PK-12 | 917 | 9.4 |
| Amigos School | PK-8 | 418 | 10.7 |
| Graham and Parks | PK-5 | 396 | 11.3 |
| King Open | PK-5 | 387 | 9.4 |
| Gardner Pilot Academy | PK-8 | 371 | 10.0 |
| Maria L. Baldwin | PK-5 | 352 | 11.0 |
| Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School (charter) | PK-6 | 346 | 16.5 |
| Martin Luther King Jr. | PK-5 | 328 | 10.9 |
| John M Tobin | PK-5 | 326 | 10.2 |
| Peabody | PK-5 | 321 | 12.8 |
| Cambridge Street Upper School | 6-8 | 304 | 9.2 |
Towns near Cambridge
- Somerville, MA1.3 mi · 81,045 people · home $911,300
- Medford, MA3.3 mi · 59,659 people · home $755,500
- Belmont, MA3.4 mi · 27,295 people · home $1,159,000
- Arlington, MA3.7 mi · 46,308 people · home $933,800
- Brookline, MA3.8 mi · 63,191 people · home $1,246,800
- Everett, MA3.9 mi · 49,075 people · home $610,000
- Chelsea, MA4.7 mi · 40,787 people · home $493,500
- Malden, MA4.8 mi · 66,263 people · home $633,500
Cambridge questions
Is Cambridge, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Cambridge scores better for retirees than 4% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 1%. 12.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 30.4).
How much does a house cost in Cambridge?
The median owner-occupied home in Cambridge is valued at $1,092,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $130,748, so homes cost about 8.4 times income. Median rent is $2,787 a month.
What is the weather like in Cambridge?
July highs average 84.7°F and January lows 19.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.4 inches of precipitation a year and 49.2 inches of snow.
Does Cambridge get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cambridge since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on July 28, 2014. The typical Massachusetts town has had 8.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)