City profile · Maryland · Census ACS 2023

Cambridge, MD

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.

13,094
Residents
$46,261
Median income
$254,400
Median home
$1,144
Median rent (state)

Cambridge - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Cambridge lands in the 14th percentile for household income and the 9th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

14th
percentile, household income
57th
percentile, home value
32nd
percentile, median rent
9th
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, MD

Maryland's Cambridge is a small town, with 13,094 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Median household income here is $46,261 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 14.8%. Home values in Cambridge run a median of $254,400, and the median resident age is 38.6 years. About 19.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 55.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 23 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Building Boom), up 53% from five years earlier. Cambridge's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 3733.4 incidents per 100,000 residents, above the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Maryland carries a cost-of-living premium: the state registers 105.0 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 $1,144 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Maryland run around $255, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Workers in Cambridge report an average commute of 20.0 minutes, with 77.4% driving alone and 6.5% working from home. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 53.8 out of 100 (Low).

Population

13,094 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Maryland

Median Household Income

$46,261 /yr

Poverty 14.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

105.0 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Maryland average

How does Cambridge compare to other US cities?

Here's how Cambridge stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 14% higher than other cities
Home value 57% pricier than other cities
Median rent 32% pricier than other cities
Safety 9% safer than other cities

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

Zoom in to just Maryland and the picture shifts: Cambridge ranks #54 of 70 Maryland cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile 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 Maryland, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

14thIncome percentile
9thSafety percentile

14th percentile nationally for median household income · 9th 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 26 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+)

$254,400 43rd percentile more affordable than 43% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. 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, MD Cambridge, MD's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Cambridge, MD-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, MD median $46,261/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, MD'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, MD. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 19.1%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 14.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 55.0%

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

Population
13,094
Median Income
$46,261
Median Home Value
$254,400
Median Age
38.6
Poverty Rate
14.8%
Labor force participation
55.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
19.1%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
3733.4
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
545.2
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
3188.2
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
5
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
13,000 residents13,200 residents13,400 residents13,600 residents 202020212022202320242025 13,095 residents 13,457 residents ▲ +2.8%
Cambridge's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
23
housing units authorized
Single-Family
23
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1.8
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 15
2020 16
2021 20
2022 23
2023 22
2024 23

Permit volume increased 53% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
20.0 minutes
Drive Alone
77.4%
Carpool
12.3%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
2.1%
Work from Home
6.5%
Other
1.7%

Based on 5,667 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

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

Electricity
$120
avg/month
Natural Gas
$80
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$55
avg/month
Total Utilities
$255
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Maryland 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 Maryland 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
105.0
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,144/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
53.8 / 100
Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Maryland

Linganore
13,044 people
Green Valley
13,187 people
California
13,223 people
Accokeek
13,226 people
Joppatowne
13,397 people
Brock Hall
13,400 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Cambridge's 13,094 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Dover, OH
13,094 people
North Palm Beach, FL
13,089 people
Carpinteria, CA
13,100 people
Viera East, FL
13,082 people
Lake Station, IN
13,109 people
Soddy-Daisy, TN
13,117 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Cambridge's $46,261 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Jackson, AL
$46,250 median income
Chefornak, AK
$46,250 median income
Mountain Pine, AR
$46,250 median income
Swifton, AR
$46,250 median income
Clyattville, GA
$46,250 median income
Culdesac, ID
$46,250 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Cambridge, MD 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, MD - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 38.7% 44.2% 12.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 7.5% White 38.7% Black or African American 44.2% Asian 2.1% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 2.7% Two or more races 12.3% 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 Maryland 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) 13,094 $46,261
Linganore 13,044 $173,763
Green Valley 13,187 $174,221
California 13,223 $112,717
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MD FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Cambridge, MD?

What is the population of Cambridge, MD? +

Cambridge, MD counts 13,094 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

In Cambridge, the typical household earns $46,261 per year, 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 Maryland state average, a cost of living index of 105.0 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Maryland vary by metro area.

Is Cambridge, MD safe? +

Cambridge has a total crime rate of 3733.4 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, MD? +

The median home value in Cambridge is $254,400, 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.