North Cambridge, the northernmost pocket of the City of Cambridge, is an area that maintains a true neighborhood feel. It’s an area lined with inviting residential corridors that place its residents close to a couple of important transportation hubs, an assortment of outdoor recreation areas and a range of shopping and dining options.
Most of North Cambridge’s housing dates back to the late 1800s and early 1900s era in Victorian and Colonial Revival styles. There is a smattering of new builds in the area, too. Area Realtor Charles Cherney, of the Charles Cherney Team at Compass, says that North Cambridge contains a mix of condominiums, single-family homes and multi-family homes, but that most of the sales in the neighborhood are for condos. Those condos are converted spaces, within the area’s classic homes. Renovation work on North Cambridge’s inventory of classic houses is common, too. “There’s always activity,” Cherney says. Sale prices for residences in North Cambridge vary by type — a two-bedroom condo typically goes for at least $650,000, Cherney says. A single-family home in North Cambridge may sell for north of $1 million, he adds. Demand can be high, too. “North Cambridge and Cambridge, collectively, remain a solid market,” Cherney says.
Two of the focal points of North Cambridge are the pair of Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority stations in the vicinity. The Alewife station is situated on the northeast end of North Cambridge, the northernmost subway stop on the Red Line. Alewife also offers MBTA bus service, in addition to train access. Alternatively, Porter Station is located on the southern end of North Cambridge, a hub that is also on the subway’s Red Line. Porter also is a spot to catch the MBTA’s commuter rail train. “People do like access to the commuter rail and, more importantly, the Red Line, from these stations,” Cherney says.
The Porter station sits adjacent to the Porter Square Shopping Center, a more-than 175,000-square-foot complex whose tenants include a Star Market grocery store, a CVS Pharmacy and a Michaels. A Target is nearby, too, as are multiple eateries, lining Massachusetts Avenue, one of the neighborhood’s primary thoroughfares. “That’s sort of ground zero for the neighborhood,” Cherney says, of the Porter Square area. Sugar & Spice Thai Restaurant is among the nearby eateries, known in part for its expansive selection of vegan options. Or try Frank's Steak House, farther up Massachusetts Avenue. Established in 1938, Frank’s is the oldest steakhouse in Greater Boston, and its prime rib is among patrons’ favorites.
After fueling up on Massachusetts Avenue, perhaps hit up one of the public outdoor spaces in North Cambridge. Go for a run or a walk along the Alewife Linear Park trail, which stretches some 2 miles, connecting to the Alewife MBTA station. Or hike the trails within the Alewife Brook Reservation, an urban forest with opportunities for bird watching. Another option is to spark up a game of tennis or shoot some hoops at the Pemberton courts, by Rindge Field, a neighborhood baseball diamond.
Peabody School and Rindge Avenue Upper School are a pair of North Cambridge’s public schools. Peabody School features prekindergarten through fifth grade and gets an A grade from Niche, while Rindge Avenue Upper School services students in grades six to eight with an A-minus. Both institutions are outpacing state averages in terms of the numbers of their students meeting state testing benchmarks in English, science and math. Students may then attend Somerville High School, which also has an A-minus grade, for grades nine to 12.
Bill Gehan
Campion & Company Fine Homes Real Estate
(781) 549-0309
77 Total Sales
1 in North Cambridge
$1,650,000 Price
Rachel Hillman Foy
Hillman Homes
(774) 806-8325
146 Total Sales
1 in North Cambridge
$885,000 Price
GB
Greater Boston Home Team
Greater Boston Home Buying
(857) 290-5645
90 Total Sales
1 in North Cambridge
$683,000 Price
Matthew Foley
Fenway Property Advisors
(339) 213-8796
49 Total Sales
1 in North Cambridge
$335,000 Price
Diana Kim
eXp Realty
(857) 380-9058
27 Total Sales
1 in North Cambridge
$1,200,000 Price
Federico Creatini
eXp Realty
(857) 816-8470
31 Total Sales
1 in North Cambridge
$1,250,000 Price
Airport
General Edward Lawrence Logan International
19 min drive
Subway
Alewife Station
Train
Porter Square
Subway
Porter Square Station
Bus
Rindge Ave & Reed St
Bus
Rindge Ave & Clay St
Bus
Rindge Ave & Russell Field
Bus
Massachusetts Ave & Cedar St
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | North Cambridge | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 3 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 2 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 2 | 4 |
| Robbery | 4 | 4 |
| Burglary | 3 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 3 | 4 |
| Larceny | 4 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 3 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
On average, homes in North Cambridge, Cambridge sell after 54 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in North Cambridge, Cambridge over the last 12 months is $1,182,500, up 17% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
$2,964 - $9,688 per month
$3,125 - $4,600 per month
Bike Score®
Walk Score®
Transit Score®
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Somerville’s beating heart has transportation access, shopping, dining, fun
Developing area retains quiet urban feel near Tufts University
Peaceful living in a collegiate Cambridge community
An urban neighborhood but with a quieter, suburban vibe
