Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Cambridge, MA

    Is Cambridge a good place to live?

    Watch Cambridge

    Cambridge ranks #39 of 64 Massachusetts cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (48/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population fell 0.1% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $1,040,500
    +4.3% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $2,742
    per month
    Household income
    $126,469
    median
    Unemployment
    3.4%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Cambridge

    The median home value in Cambridge is $1,040,500 and median rent is $2,742 a month, against a median household income of $126,469. Homes cost about 8.2× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Cambridge crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Massachusetts the 2025 rate was 301 violent and 1,036 property crimes per 100,000 people — #42 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Cambridge, MA

    Cambridge has about 117,794 residents, 3.4% unemployment and 30% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Cambridge with

    Cambridge vs BostonCambridge vs WorcesterCambridge vs SpringfieldCambridge vs LowellCambridge vs BrocktonCambridge vs QuincyCambridge vs LynnCambridge vs New Bedford

    More: Where to move in Massachusetts · Best counties in Massachusetts

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report