City profile · Massachusetts · Census ACS 2023

Cambridge, MA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Cambridge - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

117,794
Residents
$126,469
Median income
$1,040,500
Median home
$2,941
Median rent (state)

Cambridge - the verdict

Cambridge ranks in the 89th percentile for household income and the 15th percentile for safety nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

89th
percentile, household income
97th
percentile, home value
97th
percentile, median rent
15th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Cambridge, MA

Cambridge is a mid-sized U.S. city in Massachusetts, home to 117,794 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Cambridge households earn a median of $126,469 annually, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 7.2%. Cambridge's housing stock carries a median value of $1,040,500, and the median resident age is 30.5 years. Educational attainment runs 80.2% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 67.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 489 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Slowing), down 23% from five years earlier. Cambridge's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: per-100,000 total crime stands at 3081.0 in FBI UCR data, above the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Massachusetts carries a cost-of-living premium: the state registers 105.8 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Above Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $2,941 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Massachusetts run around $330, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. The average commute for Cambridge workers runs 18.7 minutes, with 20.9% driving alone and 28.3% working from home. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 93.5 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

117,794 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Massachusetts

Median Household Income

$126,469 /yr

Poverty 7.2%

Cost of Living Index (state)

105.8 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Massachusetts average

How does Cambridge compare to other US cities?

Cambridge measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 89% higher than other cities
Home value 97% pricier than other cities
Median rent 97% pricier than other cities
Safety 15% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Massachusetts, Cambridge ranks #145 of 149 Massachusetts cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Cambridge's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Massachusetts, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

89thIncome percentile
15thSafety percentile

89th percentile nationally for median household income · 15th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Cambridge's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Cambridge's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 36 Avg. percentile National median
Cambridge's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Cambridge's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$1,040,500 3rd percentile more affordable than 3% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). This entry sits in this band. Cambridge $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Cambridge, MA Cambridge, MA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Cambridge, MA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Cambridge, MA median $126,469/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Cambridge, MA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Cambridge, MA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 80.2%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 7.2%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 67.0%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
117,794
Median Income
$126,469
Median Home Value
$1,040,500
Median Age
30.5
Poverty Rate
7.2%
Labor force participation
67.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
80.2%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
3081.0
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
436.7
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
2644.3
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
20
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
110,000 residents115,000 residents120,000 residents125,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 116,202 residents 122,588 residents ▲ +5.5%
Cambridge's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Slowing
Total Permits (2024)
489
housing units authorized
Single-Family
23
detached homes
Multifamily
466
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
4.2
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 635
2020 546
2021 661
2022 543
2023 121
2024 489

Permit volume decreased 23% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
18.7 minutes
Drive Alone
20.9%
Carpool
3.1%
Public Transit
19.4%
Walk
19.3%
Work from Home
28.3%
Other
9.0%

Based on 69,475 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Massachusetts - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$160
avg/month
Natural Gas
$110
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$60
avg/month
Total Utilities
$330
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Massachusetts state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Massachusetts state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Cambridge sits in

Cost of Living Index
105.8
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$2,941/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
93.5 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Massachusetts

Lowell
114,799 people
Brockton
105,080 people
Quincy
101,361 people
Lynn
100,905 people
New Bedford
100,731 people
Fall River
93,764 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Cambridge's 117,794 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

North Charleston, SC
117,460 people
Richardson, TX
118,269 people
Billings, MT
118,321 people
Clearwater, FL
117,075 people
Lakeland, FL
117,030 people
Wilmington, NC
118,578 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Cambridge's $126,469 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Wacousta, MI
$126,471 median income
Odenton, MD
$126,455 median income
Seabeck, WA
$126,442 median income
Durham, CT
$126,406 median income
Gregory, OK
$126,406 median income
South Jordan, UT
$126,400 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Cambridge, MA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Cambridge, MA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 57.5% 10.5% 19.7% 9.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 8.9% White 57.5% Black or African American 10.5% Asian 19.7% American Indian 0.1% Native Hawaiian 0.1% Some other race 2.5% Two or more races 9.6% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Cambridge compares to nearby Massachusetts cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Cambridge (this city) 117,794 $126,469
Lowell 114,799 $76,205
Brockton 105,080 $77,089
Quincy 101,361 $95,711
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MA FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Cambridge, MA?

What is the population of Cambridge, MA? +

The population of Cambridge, MA stands at 117,794 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Cambridge, MA? +

Cambridge households earn a median of $126,469 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Cambridge? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Cambridge; the closest available measure is the Massachusetts state average, a cost of living index of 105.8 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Massachusetts vary by metro area.

Is Cambridge, MA safe? +

Cambridge has a total crime rate of 3081.0 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Cambridge, MA? +

A typical home in Cambridge is worth $1,040,500, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.