The 2010 U.S. Census recorded 105,162 residents, a 3.8% increase from the 2000 U. S. Census. The 2000 decennial census found that the population of Cambridge 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.
The Census Bureau releases estimates of the population between decennial censuses. The 2018 population estimate, current as of July 1, 2017, totaled 113,630. The 2012 - 2016 American Community Survey provides a population estimate of 108,757.
The 2010 Census found 44,032 households in Cambridge, including 17,420 family households or 39.6% or the total. 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.
The average household size was 2.00 persons in 2010, 2.03 persons in 2000, and 2.08 persons in 1990.
As of the 2010 Census 17,102 Cambridge residents or 16.3% of the total, lived in group quarters. As of the 2000 Census 14,663 Cambridge residents, or 14.5%, 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 majority of group quarters residents, over 90% of those recorded in 2010, were college dormitory residents.
In 2010 Cambridge had a population density of 16,469 persons per square mile and 7,406 housing units per square mile. These figures are equivalent to 26 people and 12 housing units per acre. According to the United States Census Bureau, as of the 2010 U. S. Census, Cambridge is the 10th densest incorporated city in the United States.
According to the 2013 - 2017 American Community Survey data on the level of education, 76.5% of the population over 25 has either a four year bachelor degree or a graduate degree, 9.3% has either an Associate degree or some college course work, 8.9% has a high school diploma and 5.3% does not have a high school diploma.
According to the 2012 - 2016 American Community Survey, 30.7% of the population 18 or older is enrolled full-time or part-time in a college or graduate school degree program.
The 2017 Annual Town Gown Reports submitted by Harvard University, Hult International Business School, Lesley University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology indicate that these institutions have 13,736 undergraduate students and 20,709 graduate students attending. Of these, 11,462 undergraduates and 11,204 graduate students reside in Cambridge, either in institutional housing or off campus.
According to the 2013 - 2017 American Community Survey, 28.2%% of Cambridge residents are foreign born and 10.4% are naturalized citizens. Cambridge has long served as a port of entry for immigrants from around the world.
The 2010 U. S. Census found that 66.6% of Cambridge residents are White, 11.7% Black, 15.1% Asian or Pacific islander and 6.6% classified themselves as some other race or a member of two or more races. Hispanics total 7.6% of the population. 62.1% of the population is White and Non-Hispanic. Among those under 18 44.2% are White Non-Hispanic.
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.
Major ancestry groups reported by the 2012 - 2016 American Community Survey include Irish (11.8%), German (7.8%), English (7.7%), Italian (7.7%), Polish (3.3%), West Indian (3.6%), Subsaharan African (3.3%), French (2.6%), Russian (2.5%), Scottish (2.1%), and Portuguese (1.9%). Note that the Census allows people to claim more than one ancestry.
Major languages and language groups other than English reported by the 2012 - 2016 American Community Survey Public Use Microdata Sample include Spanish (6.6%), Chinese (5.2%), French including Haitian Kreyol (3.2%), Indian Languages (3.0%), African Languages (2.1%), and Portuguese (1.5%).
The Cambridge Public School Department reports that for the 2017 - 2018 school year over 100 students speak the following foreign languages at home: Spanish (5.6%), Amharic (2.6%),
Haitian Kreyol (2.3%), Bengali (2.3%), Arabic (1.9%), and Chinese (1.7%).
According to the 2013 - 2017 American Community Survey, median family income totaled $118,376, in inflation adjusted dollars, up from $97,701 in 1999 and $76,545 in 1989. This represents an increase of 35% from 1999 and 54% from 1989 in inflation adjusted dollars.
The 2013 - 2017 American Community Survey indicates that the state median family income was $94,110 and the national median income was $70,850.
Cambridge median household incomes rose from $70,782 in 1999 to $89,145 in 2013 - 2017 in inflation adjusted dollars, a 26% increase. In 1989 median household income stood at $63,433 in inflation adjusted dollars, indicating an increase of 41%.
The 2013 - 2017 American Community Survey indicates that the state median household was $74,167 and the national median household income was $57,652.
All figures adjusted to the 2017 level using the change in the Research Series Consumer Price Index for all urban wage earners (CPI-U-RS).
The U. S. Department of Housing & Urban Development estimates that the 2018 Metropolitan Boston area median income for a family of four is $107,800 per year.
According to the 2013 - 2017 American Community Survey 13.5% of all persons and 7.9% of all families had incomes below the poverty line. Among families, 13.6% of those with children under 18 and 29.1% of female headed families with children under 18 fell under the poverty line.
The Census Bureau recorded 47,291 housing units while conducting the 2010 Census.
Using information compiled from the Cambridge Assessing database, Inspectional Services Department building permits, Planning Board submittals, and university housing sources, the Community Development Department tallies 54,713 housing units, current as of July 1, 2018. This figure includes development since 2010 and units currently under construction. In addition, the total includes all graduate student apartment-style housing owned by universities, whether or not the units are tax exempt or counted as housing units by the U. S. Census Bureau.
As reported by the 2013 - 2017 American Community Survey, 63.8% of occupied units are rented and 36.2% are owner occupied (including owner occupied condominiums). Approximately 14.8% of the entire housing stock is subsidized in some form.
According the Cambridge Community Development Department, in 2016 single family dwellings accounted for 7.1% of housing units, two family buildings for 13.1%, three family buildings for 11.7%, four to six unit buildings for 9.5%, buildings with over six units up to 50 units 19.4% and buildings with 51 or units 39.3%. Condominiums, regardless of their building type, included for 26.6% of the housing stock. Units located in mixed use buildings were 11.6% of the stock.
The 2017 median market rate sales price of a single family home was $1,377,500, for a two family $1,385,000, and for a condominium $730,000.
According to Zillow.com’s rent index as of October 2018, the monthly median asking rent for market rate Cambridge apartment was $2,337 for a one bedroom unit, $2,689 for a two bedroom unit and $2,827 for a three bedroom unit. Note that these are Zillow's estimated median rents developed using a proprietary formula, they may not reflect the actual rates paid for units surveyed and do not include landlord givebacks. These rates also do not reflect median charges for the entire population of Cambridge apartments, including long term and subsidized tenants.
The Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported an average of 126,232 jobs in Cambridge during the first quarter of 2018. This figure includes only employees for whom the unemployment tax is paid; it does not include self-employed persons or sole proprietors.
The 2013 - 2017 American Community Survey reports that 136,012 persons worked in Cambridge. The ACS figure includes all those employed in the city, including the self-employed, sole proprietors, and other categories of workers who are ineligible for unemployment compensation (Note that these figures represent persons who work in Cambridge, not employed City residents).
In the first quarter of 2018, according to the Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development, 35.1% of employed persons in Cambridge worked in Professional and Technical Services, 24.3% in Educational Services, 8.8% in Health Care and Social Assistance, 8.0% in Accommodation and Food Services, 4.7% in Information Services, and 4.3% in Retail Trade.
On average during the first quarter of 2018, according to the Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development, 5,000 private business establishments paid unemployment tax for employees. This figure does not include self-employed persons.
According to the 2013 - 2017 American Community Survey 3,428 Cambridge residents are self-employed in an unincorporated business and 1,480 are self-employed in an incorporated business.
According to the 2013 - 2017 American Community Survey, many Cambridge residents work in Computer, Engineering, and Science Occupations (21.2%), Education, Training and Library (15.9%), Management Occupations (13.2%), Service Occupations (8.5%), Office and Administrative Support (8.7%), and Business and Financial Operations (8.0%).
For more information about socioeconomic and demographic statistics about Cambridge, please contact Cliff Cook, ccook@cambridgema.gov, Senior Planning Information Manager, at 617/349-4656.