What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cambridge has the oldest population (median age 38.7).

Somerville has the most people working from home (3.9%).

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	532Lowest	837Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+9.5% ME: +2.6%
Median age	38.7±1.1Highest 14% below ME	33.5±11.3Lowest 25% below ME
	Cambridge and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.2%±8.6Lowest ME: 18.1%	28.8%±7Highest ME: 18.1%
	Somerville and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.6%±8Highest ME: 22.4%	13.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Cambridge and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2%	25.7%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±3Highest ME: 5.8%	1.8%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Cambridge and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$63,194±$39kLowest 15% below ME	$71,250±$15kHighest 5% below ME
	Somerville and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$214,900±$61kLowest 28% below ME	$218,100±$41kHighest 26% below ME
	Somerville and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,583±$265 39% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,574Lowest 48% below ME	$2,505Highest 17% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4%	65.7%±58.5Highest ME: 48.4%
	Somerville and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.1%Lowest ME: 10.7%	17%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.1%Highest ME: 74.3%	85.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME	1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	41 minHighest 65% above ME	27 minLowest 9% above ME
Work from home	1.7%±1.5Lowest ME: 15.9%	3.9%±2.3Highest ME: 15.9%
	Somerville and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	RSU 12
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

ME 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.