Cambridge, MA Local Data & Statistics

State: MA

Total population: 118,796 Household income: $130,748 Rent: $2,787

Overview

Total population

118,796

Rent

$2,787

Year built

1950

Household income

$130,748

Per capita income

$78,723

Poverty rate

12.8%

Unemployment rate

3.2%

Household size

2.1 persons

Rent over 30% of income

43%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Massachusetts

Total population

118,796

Adults over 25

79,275

Total households

49,444

Household size

2.1 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$130,748

Per capita income

$78,723

Poverty rate

12.8%

Unemployment rate

3.2%

Rent over 30% of income

43%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$2,787

Year built

1950

Households that rent

66.5%

Households that own

33.5%

Rooms per home (all homes)

4.1

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

55.7%

Black

10.5%

Asian

20.4%

Two or more races

10.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

8.8%

Not Hispanic or Latino

91.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

69.2%

Commute time to work

26 mins

Work from home

30.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

10.3%

High school graduate or GED

5.8%

Some college or associate degree

3.1%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

80.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Cambridge, MA with: Massachusetts United States

Cambridge, MA

Total population118,796

Rent$2,787

Year built1950

Household income$130,748

Per capita income$78,723

Poverty rate12.8%

Unemployment rate3.2%

Massachusetts State

Total population7,044,056

Rent$1,762

Year built1964

Household income$103,960

Per capita income$57,897

Poverty rate10%

Unemployment rate4%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityCambridge, MA	StateMassachusetts	CountryUnited States
Total population	118,796	7,044,056	334,922,499
Rent	$2,787	$1,762	$1,413
Year built	1950	1964	1980
Household income	$130,748	$103,960	$80,734
Per capita income	$78,723	$57,897	$44,673
Poverty rate	12.8%	10%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	3.2%	4%	4%

View the complete comparison of Cambridge, MA, Massachusetts and United States →

Summary for Cambridge, MA

Cambridge is located in Massachusetts.

Rent & Income

In Cambridge, the typical monthly rent is $2,787 and the typical household income is $130,748. Rent here is higher than in both Massachusetts and the U.S., and household income is also higher than in both. The estimated poverty rate is 12.8%, which is higher than the Massachusetts rate and similar to the national rate.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 66.5% of households, making this a predominantly renter area. About 43% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is very high, with about 80.8% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 3.2%, which is lower than both Massachusetts and the national rate.

Cambridge, MA — Rent vs Household Income

Cambridge, MA — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Cambridge, MA compares in Massachusetts (23 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$2,787	23 / 23	from lower rent	$1,137 – $2,787
Household income	$130,748	3 / 23	from higher income	$52,656 – $190,304
Poverty rate	12.8%	12 / 23	from lower poverty	4.5% – 25.8%
Unemployment rate	3.2%	2 / 23	from lower unemployment	3.1% – 6.1%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in Massachusetts with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Cambridge, MA

Rent

Cambridge ranks 23rd out of 23 large places in Massachusetts for rent. Statewide rents range from $1,137 in New Bedford, MA to $2,787 in Cambridge, MA.

Household income

Cambridge ranks 3rd among 23 large places for typical household income. Statewide values run from $52,656 in Springfield, MA to $190,304 in Newton, MA.

Poverty rate

Poverty levels put Cambridge in 12th place among 23 significant areas. Across Massachusetts, poverty ranges between 4.5% and 25.8%.

Unemployment rate

In terms of unemployment, Cambridge is ranked 2nd out of 23 major areas. Across Massachusetts, rates go from 3.1% in Somerville, MA up to 6.1% in Springfield, MA.

💰 Rent in Cambridge, MA (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $2,787 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Cambridge, MA

Annual Household Income: $130,748

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Cambridge, MA

Estimated Rate: 12.8%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Cambridge, MA

In Cambridge, MA, households that rent: 32,897 (66.5%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	32,897	66.5%
Owner-Occupied	16,547	33.5%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Cambridge, MA

In Cambridge, MA, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 14,146 (43%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	14,146	43%
Other renter households	18,751	57%
Total renter households	32,897	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Cambridge, MA

Less than High School: 8,180 people (10.3%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 4,588 people (5.8%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 2,470 people (3.1%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 64,037 people (80.8%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 79,275

📊 Unemployment Rate in Cambridge, MA

Estimated Rate: 3.2%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Wilmington, NC118,578 Billings, MT118,321 Richardson, TX118,269 West Palm Beach, FL119,508 Hartford, CT119,970 Fairfield, CA119,985 North Charleston, SC117,460 Berkeley, CA120,223 Clearwater, FL117,075 Lakeland, FL117,030

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.