Cambridge MA

In Cambridge, the rent-to-income burden runs around 26% — acceptable by national standards. Median income sits at $130,748 and median rent is $2,787/month. 43% of renters spend 30%+ of income on housing — above the national average. Median home value: $1,092,100 — that's 8.4× the median income. Only 33% of households own their home — this is overwhelmingly a renter city, which helps explain the landlord leverage problem. 81% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher — a highly educated workforce that drives (and inflates) this local economy. With a median age of 30, this is a young city — high energy, high turnover, and a lot of people figuring out adulthood simultaneously. Employment picture: 3.39% unemployment — a healthy job market. Poverty rate: 12.8%. Average commute: 26 minutes — acceptable. Cambridge was founded in 1630 — that's 396 years of history baked into the streets. The city covers 7.1 sq miles at 16,708 people/sq mile — one of the densest in the US. Elevation: 39 ft — essentially flat — floods are a real conversation. Cambridge has 9 sister cities — cosmopolitan on paper, at least. RoastMyCity overall score: 63/100 — It Depends.