The Best and Worst Parts of Living in Cambridge Massachusetts
I feel lucky to be a resident of Cambridge, Massachusetts. In 2022, Cambridge was ranked number two by Niche as one of the best cities to live in America. As a local resident, I’d like to share with you my thoughts of what I like and dislike about Cambridge.
Best Parts of Cambridge Massachusetts
Home to the BEST Universities in the World:
Cambridge Massachusetts is home to two of the best universities in America: Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Free Education for Pre-K Children:
Cambridge is one of the few towns that offers residents free Pre-K for every four-year old and free early childhood education (head start and Tobin Montessori School) for some three-year old children. This is a huge savings for parents.
Great Neighborhoods:
According to Niche, Cambridge is home to many of Massachusetts top neighborhoods. These include: The Port, Cambridgeport and mid-Cambridge. All of these neighborhoods are rated excellent by their residents and also have access to top public schools.
Excellent Employment Opportunities:
If you’re planning to work in the biotech or technology fields, then living in Cambridge is the place for you. In particular, the Kendall Square area of Cambridge is home to many of the nation’s largest life science and biotech corporations. Names like Biogen, Pfizer, Merck, Novartis, Moderna are prominently displayed on local office buildings. Even if you don’t work in these industries, Cambridge offers residents and non-residents jobs of all types.
Plenty of Public Transportation Options:
Cambridge offers residents a variety of public transportation options(subway (called the T), commuter rail, shuttles, shared bikes, and buses). This perk makes it easy for residents without a car to easily travel inside and outside the city.
Very Low Property Taxes:
Cambridge has one of the lowest property tax rates in the state of Massachusetts. It was $5.85 per $1000 in assessed value in 2021. The low property tax rates in Cambridge is mainly driven by the continuation of new commercial development, which helps to absorb the cost of new residential development. This allows the city to maintain one of the lowest residential tax rates in the Commonwealth as well as a favorable commercial tax rate compared to surrounding communities.
Worst Parts of Cambridge Massachusetts
Densely Populated:
Home to over 116,000 residents, Cambridge is densely populated. So, if you like your space and prefer less crowded areas, Cambridge may not be the place for you.
Limited Parking:
If you’re a Cambridge resident, you can get a parking sticker (permit) that allows you to park in residential only parking spots on the street. However, parking spaces can be difficult to find, especially when it snows and on street cleaning days. If you choose to park in garages, it will cost you between $15 and $40 a day. Like many other crowded cities, owning a car in Cambridge may be one of few luxuries you may want to do without.
High Rents:
House rents in Boston and Cambridge are among the highest (top 20) in the US and have increased substantially during the pandemic years. According to Zillow, the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Cambridge was $3,575, which was 35% more than the median rent for a same-sized apartment in Massachusetts. This is not surprising giving all the amenities that Cambridge has to offer. The old adage rings true – you pay for what you get.
Wendy Jiang is a real estate agent and member of Team Coyle @ Compass.
About TEAM COYLE
Team Coyle, a professional group of real estate agents at Compass, has more than ten years of experience helping individuals and families buy and sell real estate in the Greater Boston Region of Massachusetts (primarily MetroWest).