Official websites use .gov
A
.gov website belongs to an official government
organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A
lock (
) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to
the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official,
secure websites.
Cambridge intends to preserve its diverse and unique commercial districts and foster an economy that works for everyone. Cambridge’s diversity is an important part of its identity, and can only be retained if all residents, regardless of background, have access to quality jobs,; the ability to start their own businesses, and programs that provide skill development and growth opportunities.
Envision indicators are updated as new data becomes available, which varies by indicator, but no more often than annually.
Difference in compound annual growth rate of jobs in targeted sectors
Difference in compound annual growth rate of jobs in targeted sectors
MA Dept. of Labor ES-202 and US BLS QCEW Job Reports
Cambridge compound rate of change in jobs since 2016 less MA compound rate of change
| Indicator | Baseline | Target |
|---|---|---|
| Life Sciences Jobs compared to MA | 2.4% | 3% |
| Life Sciences Jobs compared to US | 6% | 3% |
| High Tech Jobs compared to MA | 5.4% | 3% |
| High Tech Jobs compared to US | 5.8% | 3% |
Comparative advantage in commercial R&D/lab space
Comparative advantage in commercial R&D/lab space
CBRE Q4 reports on lab space in metro Boston
Proportion of Metro Boston R&D lab space found in Cambridge as reported by CBRE.
Commercial R&D Lab Space
39%
Percentage
This indicator tracks Cambridge’s progress toward economic inclusion. If Cambridge is going to become a more equitable city, it is imperative that income distribution by race becomes more equal. These targets aim to ensure that in 2030 no group’s median income is less than 80% of the median income for all of Cambridge’s households. For this indicator, households that are headed by students are excluded from the analysis.
The two lines in the chart show the median income of a selected group of households as a percentage of the median income of all non-student households. The two groups are:
This indicator tracks Cambridge’s progress toward economic inclusion. If Cambridge is going to become a more equitable city, it is imperative that income distribution by race becomes more equal. These targets aim to ensure that in 2030 no group’s median income is less than 80% of the median income for all of Cambridge’s households. For this indicator, households that are headed by students are excluded from the analysis.
The two lines in the chart show the median income of a selected group of households as a percentage of the median income of all non-student households. The two groups are:
Five Year American Community Survey Public Use Microdata Sample
Proportion of Black non-student headed household median income to median income of all non-student headed households
| Indicator | Baseline | Target |
|---|---|---|
| Black households | 33.8% | 80% |
| Hispanic households | 71.4% | 80% |
This indicator tracks the proportion of selected household types whose income covers typical living expenses without receiving assistance through income eligibility based programs. Understanding how many households fall under this threshold provides a measure the level of economic stress experienced by Cambridge residents. The selected household types and required incomes for 2022 are:
This indicator tracks the proportion of selected household types whose income covers typical living expenses without receiving assistance through income eligibility based programs. Understanding how many households fall under this threshold provides a measure the level of economic stress experienced by Cambridge residents. The selected household types and required incomes for 2022 are:
Economic Policy Institute Family Budget Calculator, adapted using more locally-specific data, where available, by Cambridge CDD
The Economic Policy Institute's Family Budget Calculator estimates the income a family needs in order to attain a modest yet adequate standard of living. It estimates expenses for housing, food, child care, transportation, health care, other necessities, and taxes for 10 different family types. Cambridge CDD adapts these estimates using locally-specific data, where available.
| Indicator | Baseline | Target |
|---|---|---|
| Single adult living alone | 41% | Percentage |
| Single parent with preschool age child | 20% | Percentage |
| Couple with two children, one school age | 74% | Percentage |
This indicator tracks long-term educational attainment for young adults who graduated from Cambridge Rindge and Latin School (CRLS). Since educational attainment tends to be correlated with positive long-term employment and income outcomes, this is one of the best available measures to track long-term outcomes for children. The indicator measures the gap between selected groups of students in attaining any degree or certification within six years of graduation from CRLS.
The chart shows the gap in attaining any degree or certificate for:
This indicator tracks long-term educational attainment for young adults who graduated from Cambridge Rindge and Latin School (CRLS). Since educational attainment tends to be correlated with positive long-term employment and income outcomes, this is one of the best available measures to track long-term outcomes for children. The indicator measures the gap between selected groups of students in attaining any degree or certification within six years of graduation from CRLS.
The chart shows the gap in attaining any degree or certificate for:
District Analysis and Review Tool (DART) for Success After High School from MA Dept. of Elementary and Secondary Education
Extract the share of each comparison group attaining a degree within 6 years of graduation from the DART.
| Indicator | Baseline | Target |
|---|---|---|
| Low-income student gap | 21% | Percentage |
| Black student gap | 15% | Percentage |
| Hispanic student gap | -2% | Percentage |
This indicator tracks progress towards reducing unequal access to economic opportunities between Cambridge residents at a finer grain than other indicators. The City has limited capability to directly impact change for these indicators, but they remain an important way to track the cumulative overall impact of Envision Cambridge.
The chart shows the ratio of labor force participation between four comparison groups:
This indicator tracks progress towards reducing unequal access to economic opportunities between Cambridge residents at a finer grain than other indicators. The City has limited capability to directly impact change for these indicators, but they remain an important way to track the cumulative overall impact of Envision Cambridge.
The chart shows the ratio of labor force participation between four comparison groups:
Five Year American Community Survey
Ratio of labor force participation rate for Black Alone and White Non-Hispanic populations aged 16 and older
| Indicator | Baseline | Target |
|---|---|---|
| Black participation | 0.9 Ratio | 0.9 Ratio |
| Hispanic participation | 0.9 Ratio | 0.9 Ratio |
| Women participation | 0.92 Ratio | 1 Ratio |
| Disabled participation | 0.63 Ratio | 0.75 Ratio |
Small businesses create a sense of place unique to Cambridge and drive local and global economic development. This indicator tracks progress towards maintaining and growing the number of small businesses in Cambridge.
The chart shows the number of establishments with fewer than 20 employees per 1,000 population.
Small businesses create a sense of place unique to Cambridge and drive local and global economic development. This indicator tracks progress towards maintaining and growing the number of small businesses in Cambridge.
The chart shows the number of establishments with fewer than 20 employees per 1,000 population.
Census County Business Patterns
Get counts of all establishments with less than 20 employees from Census County Business Patterns data and calculate number per 1,000 population in given year.
Number of business establishments with fewer than 20 employees per 1,000 population
27.8 Count per 1,000 residents
30 Count per 1,000 residents
Small businesses create a sense of place unique to Cambridge and drive local and global economic development. This indicator tracks progress towards maintaining and growing the number of small businesses in Cambridge.
The chart shows the number of small retail, food service, and accommodation establishments with fewer than 50 employees per 1,000 population.
Small businesses create a sense of place unique to Cambridge and drive local and global economic development. This indicator tracks progress towards maintaining and growing the number of small businesses in Cambridge.
The chart shows the number of small retail, food service, and accommodation establishments with fewer than 50 employees per 1,000 population.
Census County Business Patterns
Get counts of businesses in targeted sectors by size from Census County Business Patterns data and calculate number per 1,000 population in given year.
Number of small retail, food service, and accommodation establishments with fewer than 50 employees per 1,000 population
7.3 Count per 1,000 residents
9 Count per 1,000 residents
Equal access to entrepreneurial opportunities is crucial to closing the racial and gender wealth gaps. This indicator tracks how Cambridge businesses are directly taking advantage of available resources. It tracks progress towards racial/ethnic and gender economic equity.
The chart shows the proportion of minority- and women-owned businesses participating in grants and consultation programs. Note that for this indicator, years refer to fiscal years. For example, the value for 2018 is for FY2018, which ran from July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018.
Equal access to entrepreneurial opportunities is crucial to closing the racial and gender wealth gaps. This indicator tracks how Cambridge businesses are directly taking advantage of available resources. It tracks progress towards racial/ethnic and gender economic equity.
The chart shows the proportion of minority- and women-owned businesses participating in grants and consultation programs. Note that for this indicator, years refer to fiscal years. For example, the value for 2018 is for FY2018, which ran from July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018.
CDD Economic Development Division
The CDD Economic Development Division maintains statistics on the demographics of participants in grant and consultation programs offered by the City.
Proportion of minority- and women-owned businesses participating in grants and consultation programs
9%
18%
As a governmental entity, the Massachusetts Public Records Law applies to records made or received by the City. Any information received through use of this site is subject to the same provisions as information provided on paper.
Read our complete privacy statement
Enter a service request via SeeClickFix for things like missed trash pickups, potholes, etc., click here
