What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cambridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.6%).

Hull has the most homeowners (79.6%).

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	Cambridge	Hull
People
Population	118,796Highest	10,138Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	-2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	30.4±0.4Lowest 24% below MA	56.1±1.8Highest 40% above MA
Kids under 18	12.4%±0.8Highest MA: 19.4%	11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Cambridge and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	12.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9%	26.1%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	80.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	50.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	25.1%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	4.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$130,748±$4kHighest 26% above MA	$115,485±$14kLowest 11% above MA
	Cambridge and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,092,100±$42kHighest 94% above MA	$646,000±$38kLowest 15% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,787±$48Highest 58% above MA	$2,081±$187Lowest 18% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,802Lowest 20% below MA	$6,089Highest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45%±2.3Lowest MA: 51.8%	52.8%±14Highest MA: 51.8%
	Hull and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.8%Highest MA: 10%	5.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	33.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	79.6%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1950Highest 14 yrs older than MA	1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 11% below MA	33 minHighest 14% above MA
Work from home	30.8%±1.5Highest MA: 18.6%	19.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#122 of 282 in MA	#66 of 282 in MA
School district	Cambridge	—
High school in town	Cambridge Rindge and Latin	—
Students per teacherat that high school	9.3	—
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.