What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Somerville has the most affordable homes ($911k median).

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	Somerville
People
Population	118,796Highest	81,036Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+7%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	30.4±0.4Lowest 24% below MA	31.9±0.6Highest 20% below MA
Kids under 18	12.4%±0.8Highest MA: 19.4%	9.8%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	12.2%±0.7Highest MA: 17.9%	10%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	80.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	69.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	25.1%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	12.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$130,748±$4kLowest 26% above MA	$132,572±$6kHighest 28% above MA
	Somerville and Cambridge 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	$911,300±$26kLowest 62% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,787±$48Highest 58% above MA	$2,517±$64Lowest 43% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,802Lowest 20% below MA	$6,186Highest 3% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45%±2.3Highest MA: 51.8%	36.2%±2.9Lowest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	12.8%Highest MA: 10%	9.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	33.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	34.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1950Highest 14 yrs older than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 11% below MA	31 minHighest 7% above MA
Work from home	30.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	31.3%±2.2Highest MA: 18.6%
	Somerville 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	#122 of 282 in MA	#225 of 282 in MA
School district	Cambridge	Somerville
High school in town	Cambridge Rindge and Latin	Somerville High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.3Lowest	11.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.