The 2020 U. S. Census recorded 118,403 residents, a 12.6% increase from 2010. The 2010 U.S. Census recorded 105,162 residents, a 3.8% increase from the 2000 U. S. Census. The 2000 decennial census found that the population of Cambridge was 101,355. The population of Cambridge in 1990 was 95,802, up from 95,322 in 1980 and down from the 1950 peak of 120,740.
The Census Bureau releases estimates of the population between decennial censuses. The 2022 population estimate, current as of July 1, 2022, totaled 118,488. The 2018 - 2022 American Community Survey provides a population estimate of 117,962.
The 2020 U. S. Census found that 57.3% of Cambridge residents were White, 10.6% Black, 19.2% Asian or Pacific Islander, 3.4%% classified themselves as a member Some Other Race, and 9.2% identify with two or more races. Hispanics totaled 9.1% of the population. 55.4% of the total population was both White and Non-Hispanic. Among those under eighteen 42.0% were both White and Non-Hispanic.
The 2010 U. S. Census found that 66.1% of Cambridge residents identify as White, 10.7% as Black, 16.8% as Asian or Pacific islander and 6.4% identified as some other race or a member of two or more races. Hispanics total 9.5% of the population. 59.8% of the population identify as both White and Non-Hispanic. Among those under eighteen 46.3% are White Non-Hispanics.
Sixty-eight percent of 2000 residents were White, 12% Black, 12% Asian or Pacific Islander, 3% described their race as "Other" and 5% selected two or more races. Seven percent of all residents were of Hispanic background. Sixty-five percent of 2000 residents were White non-Hispanic. Slightly less than 50% of residents under eighteen were White non-Hispanic.
Seventy-five percent of all 1990 residents were White; 14% Black, 8% Asian and 3% of other races, including American Indian. Seven percent of all residents were of Hispanic background. Seventy-two percent of 1990 residents were White non-Hispanic.
Hispanics can be members of any racial group and are measured separately from race.
The 2020 Census recorded 49,564 households in Cambridge, including 19,584 family households or 41% of the total. This is an increase of 12.6% from 2010.
The 2010 Census found 44,032 households in Cambridge, including 17,420 family households or 39.6% or the total. The 2000 U. S. Census recorded 42,615 households in Cambridge, including 17,595 families, 41.3% of the total. The 1990 U. S. Census recorded 39,405 households in Cambridge, including 17,575 families, 44.6% of the total.
The 2018 - 2022 American Community Survey reported 49,475 households, including 19,842 family households or 40% of the total.
Results reported by the 2020 Census found that the average household size came to 2.09 persons.
The average household size reported by the decennial census was 2.00 persons in 2010, 2.03 persons in 2000, and 2.08 persons in 1990.
The 2018 - 2022 American Community Survey reports that the average household size was 2.08 persons and the average family size was 2.83 persons.
As of the 2020 Census, 16,550 residents reside in group quarters or 13.9% of the total population. As of the 2010 Census 17,102 Cambridge residents or 16.3% of the total, lived in group quarters. As of the 2000 Census 14,663 Cambridge residents, or 14.5%, lived in group quarters.
Residents of group quarters include all persons residing in dormitories, hospitals, nursing homes, jails and group homes. All persons who do not reside in group quarters reside in households. The majority of group quarters residents, over 93% of those recorded in 2020, were college dormitory residents.
The 2023 Town Gown Reports filed by educational institutions in Cambridge reported 14,644 dormitory residents. This number indicates a return to pre-pandemic conditions.
According to the 2017-21 American Community Survey, Cambridge has a population density of 18,274 persons per square mile and 8,124 housing units per square mile. These figures are equivalent to 29 people and 13 housing units per acre. As of 2021, Cambridge is the tenth most densely populated city in the United States.
According to the 2018 - 2022 American Community Survey data on the level of education, 79.9% of the population over 25 has either a four year bachelor degree or a graduate degree, 9.4% has either an Associate degree or some college course work, 6.3% has a high school diploma and 4.4% does not have a high school diploma.
However, according to the 1950 Census, only 14.2% of the population over 25 had either a four year bachelor degree or a graduate degree, 8.3% had some college course work, 24.6 % had a high school diploma and 52.8% did not have a high school diploma. Within a lifetime, the educational landscape in Cambridge has changed dramatically.
According to the 2018 - 2022 American Community Survey, 28,176 or 23.8% of the population 18 or older is enrolled full-time or part-time in a college or graduate school degree program.
The 2023 Annual Town Gown Reports submitted by Harvard University, Hult International Business School, Lesley University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology indicate that these institutions have 14,579 undergraduate students and 21,521 graduate students attending. Of these, 12,306 undergraduates and 12,657 graduate students reside in Cambridge, either in institutional housing or off campus.
According to the 2018 - 2022 American Community Survey, 34,759 or 29.4% of Cambridge residents are foreign born and 13,726 or 11.6% are naturalized citizens. Cambridge has long served as a port of entry for immigrants from around the world. More so, Cambridge's booming life sciences, technology, and research industries have global influence and draw in international talent.
Major languages and language groups other than English reported by the 2017 - 2021 American Community Survey Public Use Microdata Sample include Spanish (5.8%), Chinese (4.6%), Haitian Kreyol (1.6%), Korean (1.4%), French (1.4%), Amharic (1.2%), Arabic (1.1%), German (1.1%), Hindi (1.1%), Portuguese (1.1%).
The Cambridge Public School Department reports that for the 2022 - 2023 school year over 100 students speak the following foreign languages at home: Spanish (6.0%), Amharic (3.9%), Arabic (2.3%), Bengali (2.2%), Chinese (1.9%), Haitian Kreyol (1.9%).
According to the 2018 - 2022 American Community Survey, median family income totaled $160,739, up from $96,933 during 1999 and $84,602 during 1989 in inflation adjusted dollars. This represents an increase of 66% from 1999 and 89% from 1989 in inflation adjusted dollars. The City's mean, or average, family income totaled $226,541 for the same period.
The 2018 - 2022 American Community Survey indicates that the state median family income was $122,530 and the national median income was $92,646.
Cambridge median household incomes rose from $78,233 during 1999 in inflation adjusted dollars to $121,539 in 2018 - 2022, a 55% increase. In 1989 median household income stood at $70,111 in inflation adjusted dollars, indicating an increase of 73% since that time. The City's mean, or average, household income totaled $169,569 for the same period.
The 2018 - 2022 American Community Survey indicates that the state median household was $96,505 and the national median household income was $75,149.
All figures adjusted to the 2022 level using the change in the Research Series Consumer Price Index for all urban wage earners (CPI-U-RS).
The U. S. Department of Housing & Urban Development estimates that the 2023 Metropolitan Boston area median income for a family of four is $148,900 per year.
According to the 2018 - 2022 American Community Survey 12.1% of all persons and 4.9% of all families had incomes below the poverty line. Among families, 12.6% of those with children under 18 and 32.7% of female headed families with children under 18 fell under the poverty line. 14.8% of all persons under 18 and 9.6% of all persons 65 or older fall under the poverty limit.
According to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, as of January 1, 2024 43,692 vehicles were registered in Cambridge. This includes 42,720 registered as for passenger use, a category that includes SUVs. 6,043 vehicles are either fully electric, plug-in electric, or hybrid.
Using information compiled from the Cambridge Assessing database, Inspectional Services Department building permits, Planning Board submittals, and university housing sources, the Community Development Department tallies 57,894 housing units, current as of July 1, 2023. This figure includes development completed since 2020 and units currently under construction. In addition, the total includes all graduate student apartment-style housing owned by universities, whether or not the units are tax exempt or counted as housing units by the U. S. Census Bureau.
The Census Bureau recorded 53,907 housing units using a different definition while conducting the 2020 Census.
The American Community Survey, a Census Bureau Program, estimated 56,934 housing units during 2022 and 53,948 housing units during the five year period 2018 to 2022.
As of April 4th, 2024, the City's affordable housing stock included 8,591 housing units of all types, including rental and homeownership units affordable at a variety of income levels, with long term or permanent restrictions to ensure affordability. This represents 14.8% of the total housing stock recorded by the Community Development Department on that date.
As reported by the 2018 - 2022 American Community Survey, 66.4% of occupied units are rented and 33.6% are owner occupied (including owner occupied condominiums). Click here to find out more about different housing characteristics in Cambridge.
According the Cambridge Community Development Department, as of June 30, 2022 single family dwellings accounted for 6.5% of housing units, two family buildings for 12.1%, three family buildings for 10.7%, four to six unit buildings for 8.8%, buildings with over six units up to 50 units 18.4% and buildings with 51 or units 43.5%. Condominiums, regardless of their building type, included for 26.9% of the housing stock. Units located in mixed use buildings were 13.1% of the stock.
The 2022 median market rate sale price of a single family home was $1,925,000, for a two family $1,630,000, and for a condominium $898,000. In 2002, the median market rate sale price for a single family home was $649,500, for a two family $619,750, and for a condominium $359,750. Click here to view data for all years between 2002 and 2022.
According to data collected by an MAPC-led consortium, as of the last quarter of 2023, the monthly median asking rent for market rate Cambridge apartment was $2,625 for a one bedroom unit, $3,375 for a two bedroom unit and $3,850 for a three bedroom unit.
Note that estimated median rents are based on advertised costs; they may not reflect the actual rates paid for advertised units and do not include landlord givebacks. These rates also differ from median rents for the entire stock of Cambridge apartments, which includes many long term and subsidized tenants.
The Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance reported an average of 151,304 jobs in Cambridge during the second quarter of 2023. This figure includes only employees for whom the unemployment tax is paid; it does not include self-employed persons or sole proprietors.
The 2018 - 2022 American Community Survey reports that 138,658 persons worked in Cambridge. The ACS figure includes all those employed in the city, including the self-employed, sole proprietors, and other categories of workers who are ineligible for unemployment compensation.
Note that both these figures represent persons who work in Cambridge, not employed City residents.
In the second quarter of 2023, according to the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance, 39.6% of employed persons in Cambridge worked in Professional and Technical Services. Of those 27.3% work in Scientific Research and Development Services and 4.5% in Computer System Design.
Other major employers include 20.7% in Educational Services, 8.3% in Health Care and Social Assistance, 7.5% in Information Services, 5.5% in Accommodation and Food Services, 2.5% in Financial Activities including real estate, and 2.9% in Retail Trade.
On average during the second quarter of 2023, according to the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance, 5,702 private business establishments paid unemployment tax for employees. This figure does not include self-employed persons.
According to the 2018 - 2022 American Community Survey, 1,582 Cambridge residents are self-employed in an unincorporated business and 2,933 are self-employed in an incorporated business.
During the second quarter of 2023, according to the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance, the average annual wage earned in Cambridge for a full time job was $155,704.
The 2018 - 2022 American Community Survey reports that annual median earnings for a full-time worker who resided in Cambridge totaled $91,068.
According to the 2018 - 2022 American Community Survey, many Cambridge residents work in Computer, Engineering, and Science (25.8%), Education, Training and Library (16.7%), Management, Occupations (12.7%), Business and Financial Operations (9.9%), Service Occupations (6.9%), and Office and Administrative Support (5.1%).
During 2023, the weekday daytime population of Cambridge was estimated to be 205,000 people. This includes residents who either do not work or who work in Cambridge, persons who work here during the daytime and live elsewhere, and daytime college and graduate students who do not reside in Cambridge. This figure does not includes persons visiting Cambridge to conduct business or for recreation, nor does the number include persons who pass through Cambridge on the way to another destination.
For more information about socioeconomic and demographic statistics about Cambridge, please contact Scot Walker, swalker@cambridgema.gov, Senior Manager for Data Services, at (617)-349-9462.