Signals
Reading
Cambridge
Climate
63 · Bottom 27%
vs65 · Bottom 36%
Physical resilience
88 · Top 14%
vs88 · Top 14%
Housing affordability
79 · Bottom 47%
vs41 · Bottom 5%
Schools
87 · Top 6%
vs74 · Top 21%
Access
97 · Top 23%
vs99 · Top 14%
Economic stability
81 · Top 6%
vs58 · Bottom 45%
Measured values
| Metric | Reading | Cambridge | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 25,612 | 118,796 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $165,912 | $130,748 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $74,991 | $78,723 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 2,567/sq mi | 18,571/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $809,000 | $1,092,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,991 | $2,787 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 82.4% | 33.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 66.3% | 80.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 3.2% | 12.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 82°F | 82°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 20°F | 23°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 44.9" | 43.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 13 mi | 6 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 34.0 min | 28.0 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 43.7 | 30.4 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 9 | 25 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 11.99 | 9.92 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 51.3% | 37.5% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 66.2% | 54.6% | 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
Reading
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Cambridge
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Full profiles: Reading, MA · Cambridge, MA · How this is calculated: methodology