Shaping the future of innovation in a historic city
A quick ride on the Red Line out of Boston’s South Station leads to a nexus for education and technology in Cambridge. Situated just across the Charles River from Boston, the city is home to Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, making innovation a principal foundation of the area’s culture and community. With these two universities, as well as big pharma and tech facilities in the area, many of the city’s 120,000 residents are employed as biotechnologists, software engineers and professors. “With a steady population of graduate students and Kendall Square’s robust entrepreneurial hub, some of the greatest minds in the world are always going to want to be here,” says Real Estate Professional, Jessica Cohen Barmach with Sotheby’s International Realty. Barmach has assisted buyers and sellers here for over 10 years and concludes, “Cambridge is easily connected to other places, but it’s also a destination.”
Outside of work, locals can enjoy art and history museums, international cuisines and parks, all accessible by foot across Cambridge’s five main squares: Central, Harvard, Inman, Kendall and Porter. A stroll through each of these areas reveals a blend of history and new developments, with 19th- and 20th-century architecture and Neo-Classical builds contrasting with the influx of modern renovations.
The city offers a slightly slower pace and a less densely packed layout than Boston, attracting those looking for more space and a smaller community. “People make longstanding and enduring relationships here,” Barmach says. “But, if you want to just go to work and go home, no one will think less of you. The community is there if you want it.” With ample educational and occupational opportunities, along with its high walkability and numerous attractions, Cambridge has been named the No. 1 Best City for Young Professionals in America by Niche.
Harvard University near Baldwin is always busy rain or shine.
Enjoy your new book while you sit along the Charles River in East Cambridge.
Porter Square station offers Baldwin residents easy access to transit.
Mid-Cambridge offers a lot of history and sophistication within its boundaries.
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An assortment of housing types in Cambridge
A mix of red brick and concrete sidewalks meander through the tree-lined streets of Cambridge. In the fall, yellow, orange and red leaves complement the light-colored, vinyl facades and earthy tones of many homes in the city. Some properties feature modest front lawns or fenced in yards, while tree boxes provide a pop of green on busier roads. The housing market comprises a variety of options, from studios and one-bedroom condos to seven-bedroom mansions with thousands of square footage. “The stability of the housing market here is a big draw,” Barmach says. “Even in 2008, when the rest of the country dropped, we plateaued because it’s such a strong investment to live or rent space here.”
Most of the city’s single-family builds are found in West Cambridge, with avenues like Brattle Street featuring roads large enough for bike lanes and lots with enough space for driveways and intricate landscaping. Buyers may find colonials, contemporary builds, Victorians and New Englanders, all with price tags most often ranging from $1 million to $4 million, as well as some luxury estates that surpass $10 million. These properties are sometimes converted into multifamily units for rent, at an average rate of $3,300 per month.
Brownstones and townhouses are more common east of Massachusetts Avenue and the Harvard campus and tend to sell slightly below $1 million, capping at about $2.5 million. Apartment buildings and condo complexes are also situated throughout the city and often come with added amenities, such as community gathering spaces, pools and gyms.
You'll find condominiums in Mid-Cambridge for a smaller, city-like living space.
A wide variety of classic styles can be found along the streets of Baldwin.
There are Victorian-style single-family homes outside of Harvard's campus in Mid-Cambridge.
Brick townhouses are one of the many different types of housing in Baldwin.
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A strong presence of art and athletics in Cambridge
Cambridge is home to a number of cultural institutions, like the Harvard Museum of Natural History, the Semitic Museum and the MIT Museum of science. Additionally, there is a vast selection of permanent public art displays and murals around town. Much of the area’s art can be credited to the Cambridge Arts Council, a city agency that has been organizing community-based programming since 1974. For example, the organization’s Percent-for-Art initiative requires that a portion of the budget for public construction projects be allocated to artwork. The goal is to make community gathering spaces more engaging and visually appealing.
Cambridge’s art scene is not limited to visual displays, as music can be heard throughout the streets and at nearby venues. The House of Blues Boston, TD Garden and MGM Music Hall host the largest acts in town, while locals can catch smaller, intimate shows at Lizard Lounge and The Sinclair. Performers can obtain a permit to entertain on the streets of Cambridge, often in Central or Harvard squares. One of the area’s biggest music festivals, Boston Calling, is held at the Harvard Athletic Complex. This three-day festival draws crowds as large as 40,000 people and features over 50 artists.
According to the Trust for Public Land, 98% of Cambridge residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park and have more than 80 to choose from. The largest option sits in West Cambridge at the Fresh Pond Reservoir, which has surrounding beaches, trails for hiking or cross-country skiing, playgrounds and a 9-hole golf course. With the Charles River nearby, runners and bikers can traverse the paths along waterfront parks, and kayakers can paddle all the way toward the harbor. Cambridge Common and Harvard Yard are popular expanses for a leisurely stroll, full of historic landmarks, striking architecture and small fields.
Though Cambridge has no city sports teams, the Red Sox play right across the Charles River at Fenway Park, while TD Garden hosts the Bruins and the Celtics. Even closer to home, residents can attend Harvard and MIT games year-round at various facilities.
Harvard Museum of Natural History is in the heart of the Baldwin neighborhood.
Make sure to visit the famous Fenway Park which is just a short drive from Cambridge.
Cambridge residents have access to the annual music festival Boston Calling.
Just a short drive from Cambridge you can enjoy music concerts at the new MGM Musical Hall.
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Highly rated education from prekindergarten to grad school
Overall, the Cambridge Public Schools system earns an A-plus on Niche. The district follows a Controlled Choice protocol for registration, a system implemented in 1980 that strays from a neighborhood zoning model. Students apply for the school they wish to attend for elementary and middle school, before completing their secondary education at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School.
Families can choose from the area’s top private schools, including Commonwealth School and Boston University Academy, which both earn A-plus grades and are ranked within Niche’s top 10 Best Private High Schools in Massachusetts. The preschool through 12th grade option, Buckingham Browne & Nichols School, also earns an A-plus and has been named the No. 2 Best Private K-12 School in the state and No. 50 in America by Niche.
According to Niche, 50% of residents have a master’s degree or higher, compared to the national average of 13%. With Harvard and MIT within the city, students can apply to hundreds of undergraduate- and graduate-degree programs in the arts and sciences at two of the world’s top institutions.
Fletcher Maynard Academy in Cambridge has an overall grade of B+ on Niche.
The Amigos School in Cambridge has an overall grade of A- on Niche.
Cambridge Rindge and Latin School has an overall grade of A+ on Niche.
Buckingham Browne & Nichols ice rink in West Cambridge sits next to the baseball field.
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Prioritizing safety and preparation for winter storms
While summers in Cambridge can get quite hot, with temperatures reaching the 90s, the city is more widely known for its cold, snowy winters. “Everything stands still during the snowstorms, and it’s nice to sometimes press pause,” Barmach says.
Because the region is accustomed to inclement winter weather, volunteers and state officials work quickly and efficiently to clear the roads. The Public Works Department begins chemically treating 23 miles of highly trafficked areas, such as schools, public transportation stops and public buildings, within three hours of snowfall.
A City Ordinance ensures that snow is shoveled within 12 hours and ice is removed within six on sidewalks, especially on street corners. The city provides a limited supply of salt barrels, as well, and even sponsors a competition for the best plowed walkways. “I often joke that winter brings us all closer, because we’re all outside shoveling, and there’s sometimes nowhere else to go but to your neighbors,” Barmach says. “People are outside a lot with kids, but it’s not weird to see adults having a snowball fight in the park, especially since people come from all over the world and have sometimes never gotten snow.”
Getting around Cambridge, Boston and beyond
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, known by locals as “the T,” is one of the oldest public transit systems in the U.S., with commuter rail, subway and bus services. Those who work in Boston can hop on the commuter rail’s Fitchburg Line or get into the city by subway on the Red Line.
While interstates 90 and 93 flow nearby, Cambridge has no major highways running through town, adding to its walkability. The city is actively working to limit automobile traffic, despite population growth; for example, all non-metered parking is reserved for residents, who must have a registered pass.
In order to help people get around without a car, Boston implemented the Bluebikes system. Users can borrow a bike for up to two hours for $10 before getting charged extra per minute, and memberships for unlimited 45-minute rides are available. A popular route runs along the Somerville Community Path, a four-season bikeway that gets plowed during snowstorms. Bikes can be dropped at any of Metro Boston’s 480 stations, which span from Arlington to Watertown.
Boston Logan International Airport is located about 5 miles east and offers direct services to more than 80 nonstop domestic and over 50 international destinations. Travelers can catch the Amtrak trains from Boston’s South or North stations.
Shopping in the squares, open-air markets and local flavors
A walk through the streets of Cambridge is akin to a stroll through a European town. Al-fresco seating spills into the sidewalks of small cafes and bistros, and new companies now inhabit the area’s antique architecture. Cuisines hail from all over the world, including hand-pulled Uyghur noodles and Portuguese bakeries on Cambridge Street. There’s also Italian fare and a Japanese-centric food court in Porter Square. In true New England style, seafood restaurants serve fresh catches of lobster and oysters, as well as clam chowder. “A few lovely, special spots include Pammy’s and Giulia for Italian, and Oleana has a great outdoor garden in the summer, and the food is perfect,” Barmach says. For an evening on the town, locals congregate at bars and live music venues along Massachusetts Avenue and Brookline Street.
Some of the most popular shopping malls can be found in Harvard Square and near the water at CambridgeSide. A mix of local shops and big-box options are also available in Inman, Central and Porter squares. When in search of regionally sourced food outside of the larger chain grocers, weekly farmers markets pop up throughout the city. Central and Kendall squares, as well as Harvard University, host seasonal markets in outdoor plazas from May through November. The Charles River Farmers Market at Charles Hotel is open year-round but moves indoors during the winter.
Joe's Pizza near Baldwin is a popular spot for students and tourists.
Yume Wo Katare is very popular in Baldwin, you can find people waiting in line outside.
Pick up your daily grocery needs at Kendall Square Farmers Market.
Enjoy some coffee and pastries at Simon's Coffee Shop in Baldwin.
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A crime rate in line with the national average
According to the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer, Cambridge saw about 1.19 crime reports per 1,000 residents as of 2023, which is on par with the national average of 1.2. For crime prevention, Cambridge Police has created a portal on the government website, with tips for taxi safety, identifying and avoiding online scams, and preventing motor vehicle theft.
On average, homes in Cambridge, MA sell after 31 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Cambridge, MA over the last 12 months is $1,150,000, up 15% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
I am a dedicated professional with more than 20 years of experience in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. I was borned and raised in Venezuela where I obtained a Bachelor Degree in Audiovisual Journalism and a few years later, I completed a Master in Spanish as foreign language teaching. I offer expertise in helping first time buyers find homes and Investor find real estate options . Please feel free to ask me if there is anything else you would like to know. I look forward to partnering with you and tackling your next real estate endeavor.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
