What is Affordable Housing

Housing is considered "affordable" when the tenant or homeowner pays no more than 30% of their gross income for housing costs. Affordable housing in Cambridge serves low-, moderate-, and middle-income households, with most programs targeted to households earning less than 80% of Area Median Income adjusted for household size. Click here for current income limits. 

Affordable rental and ownership units developed through City of Cambridge programs remain affordable through long-term deed restrictions. For rental units, these restrictions set income eligibility and limit the amount of rent that can be charged for each unit. For homeownership units, the restrictions limit the price of the unit and require that upon resale the unit is sold to a new income-eligible household.