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Frequently Asked Questions About Cambridge Demographics
- What is the population of Cambridge?
- How many households reside in Cambridge?
- What is the average size of Cambridge households?
- How many Cambridge residents reside in group quarters?
- How densely populated is Cambridge?
- How highly educated are Cambridge residents?
- How many Cambridge residents are current college or graduate students?
- How many Cambridge residents were born in another country?
- How racially diverse is Cambridge?
- How ethnically diverse is Cambridge?
- What languages, other than English, are most often spoken in Cambridge?
- What is the median income of Cambridge residents?
- What is the poverty rate in Cambridge? How many people are low or moderate income?
- How many housing units are found in Cambridge?
- How many Cambridge units are rented and how many are owner occupied?
- What is the mix of Cambridge residential building types?
- How much does it cost to buy in Cambridge?
- How much does it cost to rent an apartment in Cambridge?
- How many people work in Cambridge?
- What are the predominant industries in Cambridge?
- How many business are located in Cambridge?
- What is the average annual wage in Cambridge?
- What are the predominant occupations of Cambridge residents?
- What is the unemployment rate of Cambridge residents?
- For More Information
The source for all the information found below is the U. S. Bureau of the Census, unless stated otherwise.
1. What is the population of Cambridge?
The population of Cambridge in 2000 was 101,355. The population of Cambridge in 1990 was 95,802, up from 95,322 in 1980 and down from the 1950 peak of 120,740.
2. How many households reside in Cambridge?
The 2000 U. S. Census recorded 42,615 households in Cambridge, including 17,595 families, 41.3% of the total. The 1990 U. S. Census recorded 39,405 households in Cambridge, including 17,575 families, 44.6% of the total.
3. What is the average size of Cambridge households?
The average household size was 2.03 persons in 2000 and 2.08 persons in 1990.
4. How many Cambridge residents reside in group quarters?
As of the 2000 Census 14,663 Cambridge residents or 14.5% of the total, lived in group quarters. As of the 1990 Census 14,033 Cambridge residents, or 14.6%, lived in group quarters. Residents of group quarters include all persons residing in dormitories, hospitals, nursing homes, jails and group homes. All persons who do not reside in group quarters reside in households. The vast majority of group quarters residents, over 90% of those recorded in 1990 and 2000, were college dormitory residents.
5. How densely populated in Cambridge?
In 2000 Cambridge had a population density of 15,942 persons per square mile and 6,957 housing units per square mile. According to the United States Census Bureau, as of the 2000 U. S. Census, Cambridge is the 10th densest city in the United States.
6. How highly educated are Cambridge residents?
In 2000 65.1% of the population over 25 had either a four year bachelor degree or a graduate degree, 12.2% had either an Associate degree or some college course work, 12.2% had a high school diploma and 10.5% did not have a high school diploma.
7. How many Cambridge residents are current college or graduate students?
Among 2000 residents, 26,613, or 26.3%, were enrolled in full time or part time in college or graduate school degree programs. The 2003 Annual Town Gown Reports submitted by Cambridge College, Harvard University, Lesley University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology indicate that these institutions have 12,395 undergraduate students and 17,541 graduate students, not all of whom are resident in Cambridge.
8. How many Cambridge residents were born in a foreign country?
In 2000, 26,218 residents, 25.9%, were foreign born, including 8,283 naturalized citizens. Cambridge has long served as a port of entry for immigrants from around the world.
9. How racially diverse is Cambridge?
Sixty-eight percent of 2000 residents were White, 12% Black, 12% Asian or Pacific Islander, 3% described their race as "Other" and 5% selected two or more races. Seven percent of all residents were of Hispanic background. Sixty-five percent of 2000 residents were White non-Hispanic. Slightly less than 50% of residents under 18 were White non-Hispanic.
Seventy-five percent of all 1990 residents were White; 14% Black, 8% Asian and 3% of other races, including American Indian. Seven percent of all residents were of Hispanic background. Seventy-two percent of 1990 residents were White non-Hispanic.
Hispanics can be members of any racial group and are measured separately from race.
10. How ethnically diverse is Cambridge?
Major ancestry groups reported by the 2000 Census included Irish (13.3%), English (9.2%), Italian (7.5%), German (7.9%), West Indian (5.1%), Russian (3.8%), Polish (3.4%) and Portuguese (3.1%). Note that the Census allows people to claim more than one ancestry.
11. What languages, other than English, are most often spoken in Cambridge?
Major languages and language groups recorded in Cambridge in 2000 include Spanish (5.2%), French, including Haitian Creole (4.6%), Chinese (4.0%) and Portuguese (3.2%). In 1999 public school families spoke over 60 different languages at home.
12. What is the median income of Cambridge residents?
Median 1999 family income was $59,423, in inflation adjusted dollars up from $53,604 in 1989 and $42,906 in 1979. This represents an increase of 10.9% from 1989 and 30.0% from 1979 in inflation adjusted dollars.
Median household incomes rose from $44,422 in 1989 to $47,979 in 1999 in inflation adjusted dollars, a growth of 8.0%. In 1979 median household income stood at $33,928 in inflation adjusted dollars, indicating an increase of 41.4% over the next twenty years.
All figures adjusted to the 1999 level using the change in Consumer Price Index for the Boston-Brockton-Nashua MA-NH-ME-CT Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area from 1979 to 1999.
The U. S. Department of Housing & Urban Development estimates that the 2004 Boston area median income for a family of four is $82,700 per year; no figures are available for Cambridge itself since 1999.
13. What is the poverty rate in Cambridge? How many people are low or moderate income?
In 1999 12.9% of all persons and 8.7% of all families had incomes below the poverty line, as defined by the U. S. Bureau of the Census, Current Population Survey.
In 1999 31.1% of all persons and 27.7% of all families lived in households classified as low or moderate income (i.e., those earning less than 80% of the median family income reported in 1999, or $55,000 for a family of four.)
14. How many housing units are found in Cambridge?
The U. S. Census Bureau recorded 44,725 housing units while conducting the 2000 Census.
15. How many Cambridge units are rented and how many are owner occupied?
As reported by the 2000 Census, 67.7% of units are rented and 32.3% are owner occupied (including owner occupied condominiums). Approximately 15% of the entire housing stock is subsidized in some form.
16. What is the mix of Cambridge residential building types?
In 2002 single family dwellings accounted for 8.6% of housing units, two family buildings for 14.4%, three family buildings for 11.3%, four to eight unit buildings for 8.8%, buildings with over eight units for 30.6%, and condominiums, regardless of their building type, for 21.2%. Units located in mixed use buildings were 3.2% of the stock, and rooming houses accounted for 1.8% of housing units.
17. How much does it cost to buy a home in Cambridge?
The 2002 median market rate sales price of a single family home was $610,000, for a two family $656,000, for a three family $657,500 and for a condominium $348,500.
18. How much does it cost to rent an apartment in Cambridge?
According to a April 2003 survey of several realtors, typical monthly rents for market rate Cambridge apartments are $1,400 for a one bedroom unit, $1,725 for a two bedroom unit and $2,300 for a three bedroom unit.
19. How many people work in Cambridge?
The Massachusetts Division of Unemployment Assistance reported 102,474 jobs in Cambridge during the third quarter of 2003. This figure includes only employees for whom the unemployment tax is paid; it does not include self employed persons or sole proprietors. (Note that this number represents persons who work in Cambridge, not employed City residents.)
20. What are the predominant industries in Cambridge?
During the second quarter of 2003, according to Massachusetts Division of Unemployment Assistance, 36.4% of employed persons in Cambridge worked in Education and Health Services, 22.9% in Professional and Business Services, 10.6% in Trade, Transportation and Utilities and 8.8% in Leisure and Hospitality. Manufacturing, formerly the predominant section in Cambridge, employed 4.8%, less than in the Information sector.
21. How many business are located in Cambridge?
During the third quarter of 2003, according to Massachusetts Division of Unemployment Assistance, 3,948 establishments paid unemployment tax for employees. This figure does not include self employed persons.
22. What is the average annual wage in Cambridge?
During the third quarter of 2003, according to Massachusetts Division of Unemployment Assistance, the average annual wage earned in Cambridge was $58,708.
23. What are the predominant occupations of Cambridge residents?
As of 2000, many Cambridge residents worked in Education, Training and Library (15.0%), Office and Administrative Support (11.6%), Management (8.6%) and Computer and Mathematical (7.6%) occupations.
24. What is the unemployment rate of Cambridge residents?
In November 2006, according to Massachusetts Division of Unemployment Assistance, the unemployment rate in Cambridge stood at 3.4% (unadjusted). For up to date unemployment information, visit the Labor Force and Unemployment Rates page linked to the Economic Data page of the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development.
For More Information
For more information about socioeconomic and demographic statistics about Cambridge, please contact Cliff Cook, ccook@cambridgema.gov, Planning Information Manager, at 617/349-4656. The Community Development Department TTY line is 617/349-4621.
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