02139 receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
02141
02139
Opportunity
73 · Top 15%
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
45 · Bottom 9%
vs46 · Bottom 10%
Schools
64 · Top 33%
vs74 · Top 21%
Access
99 · Top 15%
vs99 · Top 15%
Economic stability
58 · Bottom 46%
vs65 · Top 40%
Measured values
| Metric | 02141 | 02139 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 14,517 | 40,033 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $126,522 | $134,586 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $80,031 | $74,801 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 23,837/sq mi | 25,794/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $868,100 | $1,087,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $2,915 | $2,691 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 25.5% | 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 | 74.1% | 79.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 14.7% | 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 | 4 mi | 5 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 28.6 min | 26.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 31.2 | 30.0 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 3 | 10 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 8.02 | 9.85 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 36.6% | 34.5% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 36.6% | 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
02141
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
02139
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Full profiles: 02141 — Cambridge, MA · 02139 — Cambridge, MA · How this is calculated: methodology