Cambridge Home Prices: $1.07M, Down 1.7% — 5 ZIPs Analyzed (2026)
$1,072,060. That’s the typical home value in Cambridge, MA as of February 2026. Prices are down 1.7% from a year ago, ending a long stretch of appreciation that peaked at $1,092,158 last April.
Quick answer: The average home price in Cambridge, MA is $1,072,060 as of February 2026, down 1.7% year over year according to Zillow.
Current Home Prices in Cambridge
The Cambridge market sits among the most expensive in Massachusetts. Across five ZIP codes, the typical home is valued at over a million dollars, with the priciest tract in Kendall Square pushing past $1.28M.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Median home value | $1,072,060 |
| Year-over-year change | -1.7% |
| Cheapest ZIP | $900,768 (02141) |
| Most expensive ZIP | $1,284,481 (02142) |
| Price range | $383,713 spread |
| ZIPs analyzed | 5 |
| Latest data | February 2026 |
The 1.7% annual decline is modest but notable. Cambridge held above $1.09M for most of spring and early summer 2025 before sliding through the back half of the year. Values bottomed in September at $1,064,474 and have since edged up four months in a row.
The price spread between the cheapest and most expensive Cambridge ZIPs is roughly $384,000. That’s a wider gap than you’ll see in many suburban Boston towns, reflecting how block-by-block the city actually is. East Cambridge near Lechmere prices very differently than Harvard Square or Kendall.
Cambridge Home Prices by Neighborhood
| ZIP | Neighborhood Area | Home Value | Avg Rent | vs. City Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02142 | Kendall Square | $1,284,481 | $3,876 | +19.8% |
| 02138 | Harvard Square / West | $1,112,632 | $3,158 | +3.8% |
| 02140 | North Cambridge | $1,092,528 | $3,136 | +1.9% |
| 02139 | Central / Mid-Cambridge | $969,890 | $3,533 | -9.5% |
| 02141 | East Cambridge | $900,768 | $3,384 | -16.0% |
Most Expensive
02142 — $1,284,481. Kendall Square commands the city’s highest values, roughly 20% above the Cambridge median, and rents there top $3,876, also the highest in the city.
02138 — $1,112,632. The Harvard Square corridor is the second-priciest ZIP. Rents here run lower at $3,158, suggesting a stronger ownership market than rental market relative to other ZIPs.
02140 — $1,092,528. North Cambridge tracks just above the city median. Rents are the lowest in the city at $3,136.
Most Affordable
02141 — $900,768. East Cambridge is the cheapest entry point, 16% below the city average. Rents run $3,384, putting it in the middle of the rent range despite the lowest sale prices.
02139 — $969,890. Central Cambridge prices come in 9.5% below the city median, but rents are the second-highest at $3,533. That’s an unusual mix that hints at high tenant demand even where ownership prices are softer.
02140 — $1,092,528. While not technically affordable, North Cambridge is the cheapest of the three above-median ZIPs.
Rent vs Buy in Cambridge
The average rent across Cambridge ZIPs sits at $3,417 per month. The cheapest ZIP for renters is 02140 at $3,136. The priciest is 02142 at $3,876.
For buyers, the math is harder. A $1,072,060 purchase requires roughly $214,000 down at the standard 20%, before closing costs and reserves. Annual rent at $3,417 totals $41,004. That puts the price-to-rent ratio at about 26 — a number where conventional analysis says renting beats buying.
| Cost | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Average Cambridge rent | $3,417 | $41,004 |
| Median home value | — | $1,072,060 |
| 20% down payment | — | $214,412 |
The five-ZIP rent range is tighter than the price range. Rents span $740 from cheapest to priciest. Sale prices span over $383,000 across the same five tracts.
That gap matters. It means a buyer paying 19.8% extra to live in 02142 versus the city median gets only about 13% more in rental utility from that location. Cambridge’s most expensive ZIP is priced well above what its rents support.
If you’re buying for under five years, the math points toward renting. If you’re staying for ten or more, the appreciation history — even with this year’s 1.7% dip — tilts back toward owning.
Population Growth and Migration
Cambridge added 2,982 residents between 2020 and 2024, a 2.5% gain. The city dipped briefly in 2021 to 117,215 before climbing back, with the largest single-year jump in 2024.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 118,204 |
| 2021 | 117,215 |
| 2022 | 117,973 |
| 2023 | 119,315 |
| 2024 | 121,186 |
Cambridge is growing, but not as fast as some Massachusetts peers.
| City | 2024 Population | 4-Year Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Worcester | 211,286 | +4.4% |
| Lowell | 120,418 | +4.0% |
| Lynn | 103,489 | +2.4% |
| Cambridge | 121,186 | +2.5% |
| Newton | 90,700 | +2.1% |
| Quincy | 103,434 | +1.9% |
Worcester and Lowell are growing faster, both at 4%+. Cambridge’s 2.5% sits just above Lynn and Newton. The bigger story: Cambridge is now a hair smaller than Lowell — a flip from a decade ago — and the gap is widening.
For housing demand, modest population growth combined with constrained supply explains why prices have stayed above $1M even as sales activity slowed. Cambridge isn’t growing fast, but it isn’t shrinking either, and new housing construction is limited by zoning and lot scarcity.
Cambridge Housing Market Trends
Twelve months of values, with the recent four-month uptick visible at the end:
| Month | Median Value | Change vs. Prior Month |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 2025 | $1,090,342 | — |
| Apr 2025 | $1,092,158 | +0.2% |
| May 2025 | $1,088,741 | -0.3% |
| Jun 2025 | $1,081,061 | -0.7% |
| Jul 2025 | $1,073,266 | -0.7% |
| Aug 2025 | $1,066,866 | -0.6% |
| Sep 2025 | $1,064,474 | -0.2% |
| Oct 2025 | $1,066,070 | +0.1% |
| Nov 2025 | $1,069,036 | +0.3% |
| Dec 2025 | $1,068,978 | -0.0% |
| Jan 2026 | $1,069,710 | +0.1% |
| Feb 2026 | $1,072,060 | +0.2% |
Two distinct phases in this data. From April through September 2025, prices fell every month — a peak-to-trough drop of $27,684, or 2.5%. From October onward, prices have moved sideways and slightly up, recovering about $7,586.
The bottom appears to have been September 2025 at $1,064,474. Whether that holds depends on what happens this spring.
Is Cambridge a Good Place to Buy in 2026?
The data shows a softening market that may be turning. Prices are still down 1.7% year over year, but the four-month sequential climb suggests the worst of the correction is behind.
For buyers, this is a more favorable window than 2024 or early 2025. You’re not buying at the peak. You’re not buying at the absolute bottom either, but the four-month upswing is small enough that motivated sellers may still negotiate.
For sellers, the picture is mixed. Listings priced to last spring’s numbers will sit. Listings priced to current data — accepting the 2.5% peak-to-trough decline — should move at typical Cambridge speed.
The price-to-rent ratio of 26 still favors renting on a pure cash-flow basis. Buying makes sense for households planning to stay 7+ years, where appreciation and equity build offset the carrying cost premium.
Cambridge Housing Market Outlook for 2026-2027
The 3-month trend points up. February 2026 was the fourth consecutive month of stable-to-rising values, with cumulative gains of about 0.7% off the September low.
If the current pace continues, Cambridge could close 2026 above $1.09M, reclaiming the April 2025 peak. The momentum is mild but consistent — there’s no single sharp move, just a steady drift upward.
The flip side: Cambridge is more sensitive to interest-rate moves than most Massachusetts markets, given the high absolute price point. A rate spike could stall this recovery. A rate cut could accelerate it.
For the next 3-6 months, the data supports a flat-to-slightly-up forecast. The 1.7% YoY decline should narrow as the comparison base falls forward into the soft summer months of 2025.
Similar Markets in MA
If Cambridge prices stretch your budget, these nearby Massachusetts cities offer alternatives:
- Boston — The neighboring big city with similar urban density and a wide range of ZIP-level prices.
- Brookline — A direct peer in price tier, west of Boston with comparable school quality.
- Quincy — South of Boston with red line access and notably lower prices.
- Waltham — A suburban tech hub with commuter rail to Cambridge and a softer market.
- Lawrence — One of the state’s most affordable markets, well below Cambridge pricing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average home price in Cambridge?
The average home price in Cambridge, MA is $1,072,060 as of February 2026. That figure is the median across five ZIP codes (02138, 02139, 02140, 02141, 02142) using the Zillow Home Value Index.
Are home prices going up or down in Cambridge?
Cambridge prices are down 1.7% year over year. The market hit a recent peak of $1,092,158 in April 2025 and bottomed at $1,064,474 in September 2025. Values have edged up four months in a row since then.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Cambridge?
Renting is cheaper monthly. Average Cambridge rent runs $3,417, while a $1.07M home requires roughly $214,000 down at 20% before any mortgage payment. The price-to-rent ratio of 26 favors renting unless you plan to stay long term.
What is the most affordable neighborhood in Cambridge?
ZIP 02141 in East Cambridge is the cheapest at $900,768, about 16% below the city median. Rent there is $3,384, mid-range for the city. ZIP 02139 (Central Cambridge) is the next most affordable at $969,890.
Methodology
Home values are based on the Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), a smoothed measure of typical home values in the 35th to 65th percentile range. Rent estimates use the Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI). Population figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (2020-2024 vintage). All datasets are publicly available. Housing data updated 2026-02-28.