Cost of Living in Cambridge, Massachusetts
In Cambridge, the median household income is $130,748 and the median gross rent is $2,787/mo, with a median home value of $1,092,100. Source: Census Bureau ACS, 2020-2024 estimates.
- Median household income
- $130,748
- Median gross rent
- $2,787/mo
- Median home value
- $1,092,100
- Population
- 118,796
How Cambridge compares to the Massachusetts average
| Measure | Cambridge, MA | Massachusetts statewide | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $130,748 | $103,960 | +25.8% |
| Median gross rent (monthly) | $2,787 | $1,762 | +58.2% |
| Median home value | $1,092,100 | $562,100 | +94.3% |
Statewide, Massachusetts prices average 105.8 on the BEA Regional Price Parity index (2024), where the U.S. average is 100.
Housing affordability in Cambridge
- Salary needed for median rent
- $111,480
- Rent burden at median income
- 25.6%
- Est. affordable home price
- $476,960
So that $2,787/mo is 30% of gross income
Share of the median household income spent on median rent (30%+ = cost-burdened)
At median income, 6.67% 30-yr rate (FRED, 2026-08), 20% down, 28% front-end DTI
The median home value in Cambridge is $1,092,100 — +129.0% above what the median household income supports under these assumptions.
Estimates from documented formulas — see methodology. Not financial advice.
Cost of living in other Massachusetts cities
About this data
- American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates — data period 2020-2024, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Regional Price Parities — data period 2024, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Federal Reserve Economic Data — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 13, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.