02140 receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
02142
02140
Opportunity
74 · Top 14%
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
31 · Bottom 2%
vs46 · Bottom 9%
Access
99 · Top 15%
vs99 · Top 15%
Economic stability
68 · Top 34%
vs65 · Top 39%
Measured values
| Metric | 02142 | 02140 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,737 | 21,204 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $147,723 | $135,286 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $99,370 | $86,528 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 15,086/sq mi | 18,311/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $1,954,500 | $1,149,800 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $3,501 | $2,615 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 6.9% | 34.9% | 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 | 89.4% | 79.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 7.5% | 11.1% | 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 | 7 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 25.5 min | 34.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 30.9 | 33.9 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 1 | 3 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 18.53 | 10.69 | 2024-25 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
02142
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
02140
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Full profiles: 02142 — Cambridge, MA · 02140 — Cambridge, MA · How this is calculated: methodology