What stands out worked out from the figures below

Belmont has the most kids (24.2% under 18).

Cambridge has the most renters (66.5% rent).

Cambridge is a college town. 25.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Belmont	Cambridge
People
Population	27,175Lowest	118,796Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+12.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.9±1Highest 7% above MA	30.4±0.4Lowest 24% below MA
Kids under 18	24.2%±2Highest MA: 19.4%	12.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	19.3%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%	12.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	80.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	80.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	25.1%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$183,137±$14kHighest 76% above MA	$130,748±$4kLowest 26% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,159,000±$33kHighest 106% above MA	$1,092,100±$42kLowest 94% above MA
	Belmont and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,527±$105Lowest 43% above MA	$2,787±$48Highest 58% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$4,802Lowest 20% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.6%±6.2Highest MA: 51.8%	45%±2.3Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Belmont and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.6%Lowest MA: 10%	12.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	33.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA	1950Highest 14 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	26 minLowest 11% below MA
Work from home	31.5%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6%	30.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Belmont and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#3 of 282 in MA	#122 of 282 in MA
School district	Belmont	Cambridge
High school in town	Belmont High	Cambridge Rindge and Latin
Students per teacherat that high school	15.8Highest	9.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.