Population 13,121 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in East Cambridge
Household size in East Cambridge
| Period | East Cambridge | Cambridge | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.84 | 2.02 | 2.54 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 1.84 | 2.08 | 2.59 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 1.85 | 2.14 | 2.60 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.83 | 2.07 | 2.55 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.01 | +0.05 | +0.01 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in East Cambridge are small: just 1.83 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. East Cambridge has the smallest households of any Cambridge neighborhood.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in East Cambridge
| Period | East Cambridge | Cambridge | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 34.2 | 33.4 | 38.9 | 39.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 33.0 | 32.7 | 39.7 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 33.5 | 32.0 | 40.4 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 31.8 | 32.1 | 40.8 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | −2.4 | −1.4 | +1.9 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
With a median age of just 31.8, East Cambridge is far younger than the country as a whole (40.1), a population that tilts toward young adults, many of them living alone or as couples. Cambridge as a whole looks much the same. Since 2006–10, the median age has dropped from 34.2, even as the national median rose.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in East Cambridge
| Period | East Cambridge | Cambridge | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.2% | 7.4% | 10.4% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 4.9% | 6.3% | 10.2% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 3.6% | 5.9% | 9.6% | 10.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.4% | 6.3% | 9.7% | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.8 pts | −1.1 pts | −0.7 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 3.4% of households in East Cambridge, well below the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged down 0.8 points, mirroring the country. Few Cambridge neighborhoods have a lower share of single-parent households: only two of 13.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in East Cambridge
Renters in East Cambridge
| Period | East Cambridge | Cambridge | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 61.7% | 64.1% | 36.8% | 36.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 69.7% | 63.9% | 38.5% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 70.4% | 65.2% | 38.3% | 37.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 78.1% | 66.6% | 38.4% | 37.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | +16.4 pts | +2.4 pts | +1.6 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in East Cambridge rent: 78.1% of occupied homes are rented, far above the national share of 34.8%. Expect more apartments, and more turnover, than in owner-heavy areas. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 16.4 points, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only one other Cambridge neighborhood has a higher share of renters.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in East Cambridge
| Period | East Cambridge | Cambridge | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.6% | 9.1% | 8.1% | 9.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 16.1% | 8.7% | 7.4% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 14.1% | 12.3% | 7.3% | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 15.6% | 11.0% | 6.7% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.0 pts | +1.9 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in East Cambridge: 15.6% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy has fallen 2.0 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in East Cambridge
| Period | East Cambridge | Cambridge | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1976 | 1950 | 1958 | 1958 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1977 | 1950 | 1959 | 1959 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1978 | 1955 | 1961 | 1961 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1984 | 1959 | 1964 | 1963 | 1980 |
| Change | +8 | +9 | +6 | +5 | +6 |
The housing in East Cambridge is a little younger than the country's: half of it was built after 1984, against 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1976 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northeast, while the west has the oldest housing. East Cambridge has the newest homes of any Cambridge neighborhood.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in East Cambridge
| Period | East Cambridge | Cambridge | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,513 | $1,429 | $1,171 | $1,085 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,614 | $1,610 | $1,251 | $1,157 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $2,344 | $2,241 | $1,537 | $1,398 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $3,165 | $2,761 | $2,051 | $1,860 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,652 | +$1,332 | +$881 | +$775 | +$606 |
A typical rental in East Cambridge costs $3,165 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $1,652 a month since 2006–10, up 109%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 28.0% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. East Cambridge has the highest rents of any Cambridge neighborhood.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in East Cambridge
Bachelor's degrees in East Cambridge
| Period | East Cambridge | Cambridge | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 69.0% | 72.5% | 42.2% | 38.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 76.4% | 76.0% | 44.1% | 40.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 80.3% | 79.3% | 48.2% | 43.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 82.0% | 81.4% | 51.9% | 47.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +13.0 pts | +8.9 pts | +9.7 pts | +8.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
East Cambridge is highly educated: about eight in ten adults 25 and older (82.0%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 13.0 points, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the east and least in the northwest.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in East Cambridge
| Period | East Cambridge | Cambridge | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 92.0% | 94.5% | 89.8% | 88.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 94.6% | 94.5% | 90.6% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 95.8% | 95.9% | 91.5% | 90.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.5% | 96.4% | 91.8% | 91.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.5 pts | +1.9 pts | +2.1 pts | +2.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in East Cambridge: 96.5% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. That is in line with the rest of Cambridge. The share with a diploma is up 4.5 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in East Cambridge
| Period | East Cambridge | Cambridge | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.6% | 5.9% | 7.0% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.9% | 5.8% | 8.0% | 8.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.6% | 4.1% | 4.6% | 5.0% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.3% | 3.3% | 4.9% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.2 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in East Cambridge has been strong: just 3.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. The picture is much the same across Cambridge. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
East Cambridge compared with nearby neighborhoods
| Neighborhood | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Cambridge | 1.83 | 31.8 | 3.4% | 78.1% | 15.6% | 1984 | $3,165 | 82.0% | 96.5% | 3.3% |
| Wellington-Harrington | 2.28 | 31.1 | 10.9% | 73.9% | 4.5% | 1942 | $2,652 | 64.4% | 90.8% | 2.2% |
| Area IV | 2.24 | 30.4 | 12.5% | 77.8% | 4.8% | 1962 | $2,366 | 71.0% | 92.0% | 4.2% |
| Downtown Crossing | 1.68 | 37.9 | 3.0% | 67.0% | 18.9% | 1954 | $2,722 | 77.3% | 92.4% | 2.6% |
| MIT | 2.07 | 22.3 | 4.2% | 100.0% | 10.3% | 1977 | $2,752 | 97.0% | 99.8% | 3.8% |
| Union Square | 2.07 | 32.4 | 2.9% | 72.0% | 6.7% | 1947 | $2,522 | 75.1% | 92.8% | 2.6% |
| Back Bay | 1.57 | 37.8 | 3.4% | 67.6% | 19.3% | 1950 | $2,565 | 84.2% | 96.6% | 4.1% |
| East Somerville | 2.43 | 36.4 | 12.0% | 67.7% | 4.4% | 1938 | $2,673 | 49.4% | 82.6% | 1.3% |
| Dock Square | 1.65 | 32.0 | 3.4% | 80.2% | 16.7% | 1966 | $3,000 | 82.9% | 97.7% | 2.8% |
| Central | 1.74 | 33.9 | 4.0% | 77.8% | 21.8% | 1989 | $2,662 | 66.8% | 88.8% | 7.4% |
| Mid-Cambridge | 2.00 | 32.2 | 3.7% | 61.6% | 11.9% | 1942 | $2,727 | 86.8% | 97.3% | 2.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Wilkes, Portland, OR · Archer Heights, Chicago, IL · South Lake Union, Seattle, WA · Spanos Park, Stockton, CA · Juanita, Kirkland, WA · Lee-Miles, Cleveland, OH · Longfellow, Iowa City, IA · Love Field Area, Dallas, TX · Lower East Side, Milwaukee, WI · Ludlow, Yonkers, NY
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up East Cambridge. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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