Cambridge, Massachusetts Income Statistics
Cambridge Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of an area's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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B
Cambridge Around average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Cambridge | Massachusetts Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $131,513 | $104,336 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $96,932 | $80,230 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.8% | 4.9% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 28.8% | 20.6% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 31.1% | 22.3% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Cambridge is about 26% higher than in Massachusetts. Income has been growing faster in Cambridge (5.8%/yr) than in Massachusetts (4.9%/yr).
About 29% of adults in Cambridge earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the Massachusetts average of 21%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Cambridge, Massachusetts grew by 103.7% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $131,513 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.8% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Cambridge
| Metric | Cambridge | Massachusetts Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.521 | 0.531 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $107,417 | $90,842 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $95,276 | $75,629 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 11.3% | 16.7% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Cambridge, it is 0.521, lower than Massachusetts's 0.531, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 13% more than women's income in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Over a 35-year career, a 13% wage gap accumulates to roughly $424,935 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Cambridge, Massachusetts has narrowed from about 16% to 11% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 20% in 2021, and was narrowest at 9% in 2016. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,254 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Cambridge | Massachusetts Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% | 5.1% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 30.7% | 18.6% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 23 | 25 | 22 |
Approximately 2,473 people are unemployed in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
The average commute time in Cambridge is 23 minutes, shorter than the 25 minutes in Massachusetts.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Cambridge, Massachusetts has fallen from 5.9% to 3.4% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 6.0% in 2013 and fell as low as 3.3% in 2022.
Cambridge, MA Wealth Compared With Nearby Cities
Cambridge, MA is the largest of the 6 cities compared here, 117,266 residents against a local median of 59,237. There is no headline here. Every measure below sits within 15% of the median across the nearest cities, which makes Cambridge, MA an unremarkable member of its own neighbourhood rather than an outlier in it.
The largest of those small differences is income inequality, 11% above the local median at 0.521 against 0.470. Cambridge, MA has the 6th lowest income inequality of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cambridge, MA | 117,266 | $131,513 #4/6 | 5.8%/yr #3/6 | 3.4% #3/6 | 0.521 #6/6 |
| Somerville, MA | 81,027 | $132,942 | 6.6%/yr | 3.0% | 0.470 |
| Medford, MA | 59,237 | $130,524 | 6.4%/yr | 4.3% | 0.507 |
| Brookline, MA | 63,198 | $143,651 | 4.3%/yr | 3.6% | 0.474 |
| Watertown, MA | 35,594 | $126,987 | 4.3%/yr | 5.3% | 0.466 |
| Arlington, MA | 46,270 | $151,416 | 5.5%/yr | 2.9% | 0.450 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Cambridge, Massachusetts has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than Massachusetts, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
How Rich Is Cambridge, Massachusetts?
Cambridge has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $131,513, about 26% higher than the Massachusetts average of $104,336.
How fast is household income rising in Cambridge, Massachusetts?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Cambridge, Massachusetts rose 104%, from $64,559 to $131,513. Over the same years, income here outpaced Massachusetts as a whole: +104% against +61%.
What was the median household income in Cambridge in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Cambridge, Massachusetts was $126,476, up 4% from $121,869 in 2022. The Massachusetts median that year was $101,513.
What was the median household income in Cambridge in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Cambridge, Massachusetts was $107,674. By 2024 it had risen 22% to $131,513.
How many people earn six figures in Cambridge, Massachusetts?
Yes. 29% of adults in Cambridge, Massachusetts earn $100,000 or more a year (about 1 in 3), against 21% (about 1 in 5) in Massachusetts. 31% of households have a combined income of $200,000 or more, compared with 22% in Massachusetts.
How strong is the job market in Cambridge, Massachusetts?
Unemployment in Cambridge, Massachusetts is only 3.4%, well below the Massachusetts rate of 5.1%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Cambridge, Massachusetts?
The Gini coefficient in Cambridge is 0.521. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Cambridge, Massachusetts?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Cambridge, Massachusetts has narrowed from about 16% to 11% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 20% in 2021, and was narrowest at 9% in 2016. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,254 since 2009.
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