Cambridge and Blaine 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
Cambridge
Blaine
Opportunity
29 · Bottom 5%
vs50 · Bottom 37%
Growth
79 · Top 6%
vs38 · Bottom 28%
Climate
51 · Bottom 1%
vs54 · Bottom 3%
Physical resilience
62 · Top 46%
vs57 · Bottom 48%
Housing affordability
82 · Top 47%
vs94 · Top 22%
Schools
59 · Top 40%
vs57 · Top 43%
Access
71 · Bottom 13%
vs90 · Bottom 45%
Economic stability
61 · Top 48%
vs75 · Top 17%
Measured values
| Metric | Cambridge | Blaine | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 10,307 | 72,488 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $69,154 | $106,801 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $35,047 | $46,842 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,378/sq mi | 2,203/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $251,600 | $352,400 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,302 | $1,705 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 65.8% | 85.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.5% | 4.5% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -2.0% | -2.0% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.8% | 36.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 10.5% | 7.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 241 | 96 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 23.4 | 1.3 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 391.8% | -51.3% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 82°F | 83°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 4°F | 7°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 29.7" | 30.7" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 47 mi | 20 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 31.1 min | 26.3 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 37.6 | 37.5 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 8 | 12 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 18.32 | 16.42 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 51.5% | 50.8% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 59.0% | 55.1% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 34.1% | 39.5% | 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
Cambridge
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind.
Blaine
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind, hail, inland flooding.
Full profiles: Cambridge, MN · Blaine, MN · How this is calculated: methodology