02138 and 02139 receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
02138
02139
Opportunity
73 · Top 16%
vs74 · Top 15%
Growth
60 · Top 33%
vs60 · Top 33%
Climate
65 · Bottom 37%
vs65 · Bottom 37%
Physical resilience
88 · Top 13%
vs88 · Top 13%
Housing affordability
33 · Bottom 3%
vs46 · Bottom 10%
Schools
93 · Top 2%
vs74 · Top 21%
Access
99 · Top 15%
vs99 · Top 15%
Economic stability
45 · Bottom 26%
vs65 · Top 40%
Measured values
| Metric | 02138 | 02139 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 38,509 | 40,033 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $119,967 | $134,586 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $75,496 | $74,801 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 14,065/sq mi | 25,794/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $1,212,400 | $1,087,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $2,772 | $2,691 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 41.9% | 32.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.4% | 3.4% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.7% | -1.7% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 85.6% | 79.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 13.5% | 13.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 337 | 337 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.8 | 2.8 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 361.6% | 361.6% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 82°F | 82°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 23°F | 23°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 43.6" | 43.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 7 mi | 5 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 25.7 min | 26.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 28.3 | 30.0 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 3 | 10 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 9.41 | 9.85 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 54.1% | 34.5% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 82.9% | 54.8% | 2019-20 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
02138
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
02139
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Full profiles: 02138 — Cambridge, MA · 02139 — Cambridge, MA · How this is calculated: methodology