Cambridge vs Somerville
You are paying about $450k more for a 4BR in Cambridge, and in exchange you get the stronger schools. That is the trade in plain terms: $450k for a tier of schooling.
Choose Cambridge if you want the stronger schools of the two, or the commute matters most.
All Cambridge numbers →Choose Somerville if you want the lower price.
All Somerville numbers →Side by side
The better of the two is highlighted on each row. Where a row is not highlighted, the two are close enough that calling a winner would be false precision.
| Cambridge | Somerville | |
|---|---|---|
| School tier | strong schoolsT2 | solid schoolsT3 |
| MCAS percentile | 79th | 37th |
| Niche district rank | 19th of 236 | — |
| 4BR house | $1.7MT4 | $1.25MT3 |
| 2BR condo | $925k | $685k |
| Commute to Boston | 14 minT1 | 14 minT1 |
| MBTA rail | Rapid transit (T) · ~6 min to downtown | Rapid transit (T) · ~6 min to downtown |
| Tax rate | $6.67T1 | $8.97T1 |
| Est. tax bill on that 4BR | ≈$11,300 | ≈$11,200 |
| 3BR rent | $4,790/mo | $4,180/mo |
Prices are estimates calibrated to the Zillow Home Value Index and Redfin; tax rates are FY2026 residential rates and the bill applies that rate to the town’s own median 4BR estimate; commutes take the rail leg from the MBTA timetable and still model the drive; rents are HUD FY2026 Small Area Fair Market Rents. School tiers are editorial and shown next to the state’s own MCAS figures. Data last reviewed — see the methodology. This comparison never uses demographics as an input.
