City of Cambridge population counts and estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau:
- 2020 decennial census population count: 118,403
- 2019–2023 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year population estimate: 117,794
- 2023 ACS 1-year population estimate: 118,208
- 2023 Population and Housing Unit Estimates Program population estimate (as of July 1, 2023): 118,214
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.
A household includes all the people who occupy a housing unit, whether related or unrelated. Households may be family households or non-family households. Family households include at least two persons (one of whom is the householder) who are related by birth, marriage or adoption, but may also include additional unrelated people. Non-family households include groups of unrelated people living together or one person living alone.
City of Cambridge household counts and estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau:
- 2020 decennial census household count: 49,564, of which 20,257 (40.8%) are family households
- 2019–2023 ACS 5-year household count estimate: 49,592, of which 19,680 (39.7%) are family households
Average household size is obtained by dividing the number of people in households by the total number of households.
Average family size is obtained by dividing the number of members of families by the total number of families. All people in a household who are related to the householder are regarded as members of their family. Any unrelated people living in family households are excluded from the average family size calculation.
Average size of Cambridge households:
Average size of Cambridge families:
Residents of group quarters include all persons residing in dormitories, hospitals, nursing homes, jails and group homes.
City of Cambridge group quarter population count from the 2020 decennial census:
- 16,550 persons, or 14.0% of the total population
- College/university student housing: 15,437 (93.3% of the group quarter population)
- Other non-institutional facilities: 944
- Other institutional facilities: 169
The 2024 Town Gown Reports filed by four higher education institutions in Cambridge (Lesley, Harvard, Hult and MIT) reported 14,456 Cambridge-based dormitory residents.
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.
Highest education level of Cambridge residents over 25 years of age based on the 2019-2023 ACS:
- Bachelor’s degree or higher: 80.2%
- Associate degree or some college but no degree: 9.5%
- High school diploma or equivalent: 6.0%
- Less than a high school diploma: 4.3%
Cambridge residents who are enrolled in college or graduate school, based on the 2019-2023 ACS:
- 28,418 (or 24.1% of the total population)
Student population data from the 2024 Annual Town Gown Reports (which covers students attending Lesley, Harvard, Hult and MIT):
- Total student population, regardless of where they live:
- 14,264 undergraduates
- 21,025 graduate students
- Students who live in Cambridge in institutional housing or off-campus:
- 12,106 undergraduates
- 12,376 graduate students
Foreign-born status and naturalization status of Cambridge residents from the 2019-2023 ACS:
- Born in a foreign country (excludes U.S. citizens born abroad of American parent(s)): 33,920 (or 28.8% of the total population)
- Naturalized citizens: 13,691 (or 11.6% of the total population)
Percent of the population who speak languages other than English at home from the 2018-2022 ACS:
- Spanish: 6.2%
- Chinese: 4.2%
- Mandarin: 1.8%
- Korean: 1.7%
- French: 1.6%
- Amharic: 1.5%
- Haitian: 1.4%
- Hindi: 1.4%
- Portuguese: 1.3%
- German: 1.1%
- Arabic: 1.1%
Additional languages that are spoken by less than 1% of the population are not shown above.
Income of Cambridge households and families in the past 12 months in 2023 inflation-adjusted dollars, from the 2019-2023 ACS:
- Median household income: $126,469
- Median family income: $167,993
Percent of persons/families with incomes below the poverty line based on the 2019-2013 ACS:
- All persons: 12.4%
- Persons under 18: 14.2%
- Persons 65 and older: 10.2%
- All families: 7.2%
- Families with related children (under 18 years) of the householder: 11.8%
- Families with a female householder, no spouse present and related children (under 18 years) of the householder: 32.2%
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.
Cambridge housing unit counts and estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau:
- 2020 decennial census housing unit count: 53,907
- 2019–2023 ACS 5-year housing unit estimate: 54,612
- 2023 ACS 1-year housing unit estimate: 55,678
The Cambridge Community Development Department (CDD) also compiles its own inventory of housing units, including designated affordable units, across the city. The CDD inventory is not comparable to the U.S. Census Bureau counts because the CDD inventory includes apartment-style graduate student housing and permitted units under construction that are excluded by census counts. Affordable units are all rental and homeownership units subject to long-term rent or sale price restrictions and income-eligibility restrictions.
Cambridge housing units under construction or completed as of June 30, 2024, based on CDD inventory:
- 58,170 total units, of which 8,931 (15.4%) are affordable
Tenure estimates based on the 2019-2023 ACS:
- 32,874 of 49,592 occupied housing units (66.3%) are renter-occupied
- 16,718 of 49,592 occupied housing units (33.7%) are owner-occupied
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.
2022 median market rate sale price, based on arm’s length, market rate sales records filed at the South Middlesex Registry of Deeds and analyzed by the City of Cambridge Assessing Office:
- Single-family home: $1,925,000
- Two-family home: $1,630,000
- Three-family home: $2,075,000
- Condominium: $898,000
2024 Q3 monthly median asking rents for Cambridge apartments, based on a survey of online rental listings undertaken by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council:
- 0-bedroom unit (studio): $2,300
- 1-bedroom unit: $2,700
- 2-bedroom unit: $3,315
- 3-bedroom unit: $4,100
This data is limited to asking rents for market rate units and does not include affordable housing or university-controlled properties.
Number of people who work in Cambridge based on the ACS:
- 2019-2023 5-year ACS: 134,450
- 2023 1-year ACS: 149,177
Average monthly number of employees in Cambridge covered by federal and state unemployment compensation law in 2023, based on data collected by the MA Department of Economic Research:
- 151,959 (this figure does not include self-employed persons or sole proprietors)
These data represent persons who work in Cambridge, not employed city residents.
From data collected by the MA Department of Economic Research on employees in Cambridge covered by federal and state unemployment compensation law in 2023:
- Percentage of employees in the following Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) industry super-sectors:
- Professional and business services: 43.0%
- Education and health services: 28.9%
- Information: 7.5%
- Leisure and hospitality: 6.3%
- Trade, transportation and utilities: 6.2%
- Financial services: 2.6%
Additional sectors that employed less than 2% of the employee total are not shown above.
Average monthly number of establishments (business locations) in Cambridge paying unemployment tax for employees in Cambridge in 2023, based on data collected by the MA Department of Economic Research:
- 5,595 establishments (this figure does not include self-employed persons)
Number of Cambridge residents 16 years and over who are self-employed in their own unincorporated business or are an unpaid family worker, from the 2019-2023 ACS:
Number of Cambridge residents 16 years and over who are self-employed in their own incorporated business, from the 2019-2023 ACS:
Average annual wage for a full-time job for employees who work in Cambridge and who are covered by federal and state unemployment compensation law in 2023, based on data collected by the MA Department of Economic Research:
Median annual earnings for a full-time, year-round civilian worker with earnings aged 16 years and over who resides in Cambridge, from the 2019-2023 ACS:
Number and percentage of Cambridge residents 16 years and over in the following civilian occupation groups from the 2019-2023 ACS:
- Management, business, science, and arts occupations: 55,421 (78.7%)
- Computer, engineering, and science occupations: 18,964 (26.9%)
- Education, legal, community service, arts, and media occupations: 17,153 (24.4%)
- Management, business, and financial occupations: 15,589 (22.1%)
- Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations: 3,715 (5.3%)
- Sales and office occupations: 6,856 (9.7%)
- Service occupations: 4,862 (6.9%)
- Production, transportation, and material moving occupations: 2,198 (3.1%)
- Natural resources, construction and maintenance occupations: 1,068 (1.5%)
Unemployment rate in Cambridge in November 2024 (not seasonally adjusted), based on data from the MA Department of Economic Research:
Estimated daytime population of Cambridge in 2024, based on Cambridge Community Development Department analysis:
This figure includes Cambridge residents who work in Cambridge or do not work, persons who work here during the daytime and live elsewhere, and college and graduate students who attend school in Cambridge but do not reside in Cambridge. This figure does not include persons visiting Cambridge to conduct business or for recreation or persons passing through Cambridge on the way to another destination.
For more information about socioeconomic and demographic statistics about Cambridge, please contact Scott Walker, Senior Manager for Data Services, at swalker@cambridgema.gov or 617-349-9462.