Population 8,694 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in West Cambridge
Household size in West Cambridge
| Period | West Cambridge | Cambridge | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.07 | 2.02 | 2.54 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.06 | 2.08 | 2.59 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.14 | 2.14 | 2.60 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.18 | 2.07 | 2.55 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.11 | +0.05 | +0.01 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in West Cambridge are small: just 2.18 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. Even so, the typical household here is bigger than in Cambridge as a whole, where it has 2.07 people. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.07, even as the national average fell.
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 West Cambridge
| Period | West Cambridge | Cambridge | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 44.0 | 33.4 | 38.9 | 39.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.3 | 32.7 | 39.7 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 43.3 | 32.0 | 40.4 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.6 | 32.1 | 40.8 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | −2.4 | −1.4 | +1.9 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
West Cambridge skews a little older than the country: its median age is 41.6, against 40.1 nationally. The median age has dropped from 44.0 in 2006–10, even as the national median rose. Only one other Cambridge neighborhood is older.
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 West Cambridge
| Period | West Cambridge | Cambridge | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.5% | 7.4% | 10.4% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 5.1% | 6.3% | 10.2% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 3.8% | 5.9% | 9.6% | 10.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.3% | 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-parent households are relatively rare in West Cambridge: 5.3% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The picture is much the same across Cambridge. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged up 0.8 points, even as the national share fell.
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 West Cambridge
Renters in West Cambridge
| Period | West Cambridge | Cambridge | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.7% | 64.1% | 36.8% | 36.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 39.3% | 63.9% | 38.5% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 40.5% | 65.2% | 38.3% | 37.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 31.9% | 66.6% | 38.4% | 37.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | −9.8 pts | +2.4 pts | +1.6 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Nearly a third of households in West Cambridge rent their homes (31.9%), close to the national share of 34.8%. Renters make up a smaller share here than in Cambridge as a whole (66.6%). Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 9.8 points, even as the national share rose. West Cambridge has the lowest share of renters of any Cambridge neighborhood.
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 West Cambridge
| Period | West Cambridge | Cambridge | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.2% | 9.1% | 8.1% | 9.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.5% | 8.7% | 7.4% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.2% | 12.3% | 7.3% | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 9.1% | 11.0% | 6.7% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.1 pts | +1.9 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in West Cambridge as nationally: 9.1%, against 9.6%. The rate is lower than in Cambridge overall (11.0%). Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 2.1 points, 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 West Cambridge
| Period | West Cambridge | Cambridge | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1938 | 1950 | 1958 | 1958 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1938 | 1950 | 1959 | 1959 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1938 | 1955 | 1961 | 1961 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1938 | 1959 | 1964 | 1963 | 1980 |
| Change | ±0 | +9 | +6 | +5 | +6 |
West Cambridge is a place of older homes: half were built before 1938, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. No other Cambridge neighborhood has older homes.
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 West Cambridge
| Period | West Cambridge | Cambridge | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,628 | $1,429 | $1,171 | $1,085 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,849 | $1,610 | $1,251 | $1,157 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $2,565 | $2,241 | $1,537 | $1,398 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,931 | $2,761 | $2,051 | $1,860 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,303 | +$1,332 | +$881 | +$775 | +$606 |
The median renter in West Cambridge pays $2,931 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $1,303 a month since 2006–10, up 80%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 27.6% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Only one other Cambridge neighborhood has higher rents.
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 West Cambridge
Bachelor's degrees in West Cambridge
| Period | West Cambridge | Cambridge | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 85.3% | 72.5% | 42.2% | 38.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 86.4% | 76.0% | 44.1% | 40.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 91.4% | 79.3% | 48.2% | 43.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 88.0% | 81.4% | 51.9% | 47.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +2.7 pts | +8.9 pts | +9.7 pts | +8.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
West Cambridge is highly educated: about nine in ten adults 25 and older (88.0%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 2.7 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Of Cambridge's 13 neighborhoods, only two have a higher share of college graduates.
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 West Cambridge
| Period | West Cambridge | Cambridge | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 99.0% | 94.5% | 89.8% | 88.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 98.3% | 94.5% | 90.6% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 98.6% | 95.9% | 91.5% | 90.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 98.5% | 96.4% | 91.8% | 91.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | −0.5 pts | +1.9 pts | +2.1 pts | +2.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in West Cambridge: 98.5% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. West Cambridge has a higher share of high school graduates than most Cambridge neighborhoods.
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 West Cambridge
| Period | West Cambridge | Cambridge | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.9% | 5.9% | 7.0% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 2.3% | 5.8% | 8.0% | 8.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.3% | 4.1% | 4.6% | 5.0% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.5% | 3.3% | 4.9% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | +2.6 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in West Cambridge is close to the national rate: 5.5% of the labor force, against 5.4%. West Cambridge has the highest unemployment rate of any Cambridge neighborhood. Since 2006–10, unemployment has risen 2.6 points, even as the national rate fell.
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).
West 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Cambridge | 2.18 | 41.6 | 5.3% | 31.9% | 9.1% | 1938 | $2,931 | 88.0% | 98.5% | 5.5% |
| Neighborhood Nine | 2.20 | 33.8 | 6.2% | 63.7% | 7.3% | 1961 | $2,581 | 80.6% | 99.2% | 3.9% |
| Avon Hill | 2.04 | 32.8 | 2.5% | 54.0% | 7.5% | 1940 | $2,762 | 90.3% | 99.2% | 2.4% |
| Aggasiz-Harvard | 1.97 | 31.1 | 2.7% | 66.0% | 19.4% | 1945 | $2,773 | 85.6% | 98.1% | 2.3% |
| Strawberry Hill | 2.30 | 42.0 | 8.5% | 55.2% | 4.2% | 1947 | $2,714 | 80.7% | 97.8% | 1.6% |
| North Cambridge | 2.22 | 34.9 | 6.3% | 66.0% | 10.2% | 1963 | $2,601 | 76.5% | 94.7% | 3.1% |
| Riverside | 2.01 | 27.0 | 8.4% | 77.9% | 16.3% | 1956 | $2,788 | 76.0% | 97.3% | 4.0% |
| Mid-Cambridge | 2.00 | 32.2 | 3.7% | 61.6% | 11.9% | 1942 | $2,727 | 86.8% | 97.3% | 2.8% |
| Spring Hill | 2.15 | 32.6 | 2.1% | 65.4% | 6.8% | 1944 | $2,497 | 78.3% | 96.6% | 2.5% |
| East Watertown | 2.21 | 39.4 | 4.5% | 55.9% | 3.6% | 1945 | $2,531 | 64.0% | 91.6% | 5.6% |
| Ball Square | 2.41 | 33.0 | 2.2% | 55.4% | 6.5% | 1938 | $3,053 | 74.6% | 96.2% | 0.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Beechview, Pittsburgh, PA · Ysleta Mission Valley, El Paso, TX · Wedgewood, Charlotte, NC · Walker's Point, Milwaukee, WI · University City North, Charlotte, NC · Southwest Detroit, Detroit, MI · Pukalani, Makawao, HI · Old San Leandro, San Leandro, CA · Mount Washington, Los Angeles, CA · Kempsville Gardens, Virginia Beach, VA
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 West 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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