10 Most Affordable Cambridge, MA Suburbs to Live In

Whether you want to call it by its nickname, “City of Squares,” or just by its name, Cambridge, MA, is one of the many great destinations to move to in New England. There are countless things to do in the city, whether you visit the Harvard University campus and take a walk through Harvard Yard, stroll down Newbury Street, or tour the MIT Museum.

And if you’re considering living in Cambridge, there are four key points to keep in mind. The housing market is very competitive, the median home sale price is $1,116,152, the average sale price per square foot is $863, and the average rent price for a two-bedroom apartment in Cambridge is $4,087.

Don’t worry if those numbers don’t fit in your budget – we’ve got options to help you find a home or apartment that does. We’ve gathered a list of the 10 best affordable suburbs of Cambridge, MA. And they’re all less than 25 minutes away from the city. That way, you can live nearby without paying the price of living in Cambridge.

#1: Chelsea

Median home price: $520,000 
Average sale price per square foot: $379 
Average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment: $3,232 
Driving distance from Cambridge: 20 minutes
Chelsea, MA homes for sale
Chelsea, MA apartments for rent

Chelsea, with a median home sale price of $520,000, takes the number one spot on our list of affordable suburbs of Cambridge, MA. About a 20-minute drive from downtown Cambridge, Chelsea is home to roughly 4,100 people. Living in Chelsea, you can stroll through the Chelsea Historic District and check out the local art scene, sample the cuisine at one of Chelsea’s many restaurants, and shop at the Chelsea Farmers Market.

#2: Malden

Median home price: $650,000 
Average sale price per square foot: $350 
Average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment: $3,352 
Driving distance from Cambridge: 25 minutes
Malden, MA homes for sale
Malden, MA apartments for rent

Malden is our second suburb and home to about 66,300 people. Just about 25 minutes from Cambridge, you can stroll through Harvard Yard in just a quick drive. Living in Malden, you’ll want to visit the historic Malden Mills, explore the Beaver Brook Reservation, or rent a book from the Malden Public Library. 

#3: Medford

Median home price: $688,158 
Average sale price per square foot: $510 
Driving distance from Cambridge: 20 minutes
Medford, MA homes for sale
Medford, MA apartments for rent

Drive just 20 minutes outside Cambridge, and you’ll reach Medford, another great suburb. From parks and outdoor recreation to shopping and dining, there are lots of things that make Medford a great place to live. Make sure to visit one of the many historic landmarks like The Brooks Estate or Wrights Tower, hike along Cross Fells Trailhead, or watch a show at the Condon Shell if you move to the third most affordable suburb. 

#4: Waltham

Median home price: $720,000 
Average sale price per square foot: $376 
Average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment: $3,660 
Driving distance from Cambridge: 25 minutes
Waltham, MA homes for sale
Waltham, MA apartments for rent

Only slightly more expensive than Medford is the suburb of Waltham. About 65,200 people live in this Cambridge suburb, where you can visit the Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation, walk down Moody Street to find some shopping and dining, and tour the Historic Waltham Watch Company.

#5: Boston

Median home price: $760,000 
Average sale price per square foot: $598 
Average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment: $4,787 
Driving distance from Cambridge: 15 minutes
Boston, MA homes for sale
Boston, MA apartments for rent

15 minutes away from downtown Cambridge is none other than Boston. With 675,600 residents, moving to this city can keep you close enough to Cambridge without paying the premium for a home there. In Boston, you can watch a Red Sox game at Fenway Park, walk the Freedom Trail, and visit one of the many museums like the USS Constitution Museum, the Boston Tea Party Museum, or the Museum of Fine Arts.

#6: Watertown

Median home price: $800,000 
Average sale price per square foot: $469 
Driving distance from Cambridge: 20 minutes
Watertown, MA homes for sale
Watertown, MA apartments for rent

Sixth on the list is another well-known Cambridge suburb is Watertown, where the median home sale price is about $300K less than in Cambridge. Watertown has about 35,300 residents and is a great suburb to consider moving to. Make sure to visit the museums, explore the historic sites, see the views of the Charles River, and check out shops and restaurants in Watertown Square.

#7: Brookline

Median home price: $854,000 
Average sale price per square foot: $757 
Driving distance from Cambridge: 20 minutes
Brookline, MA homes for sale
Brookline, MA apartments for rent

Seventh on our list of affordable Cambridge suburbs is Brookline, which is about a 20-minute drive into the city center. With a population of roughly 63,200, you’ll be living in a smaller area, but there’s no shortage of things to do in Brookline. If you find yourself moving to this suburb, visit one of the many museums, spend the afternoon playing golf or having a picnic at one of the many parks, and check out some of the great local restaurants.

#8: Arlington

Median home price: $908,500 
Average sale price per square foot: $449 
Driving distance from Cambridge: 20 minutes
Arlington, MA homes for sale
Arlington, MA apartments for rent

Living in Cambridge, you likely know of Arlington, the eighth suburb on our list. About 46,300 people reside in Arlington, so you’ll have a fraction of Cambridge’s population while remaining only 20 minutes from the city. Be sure to stroll down Main Street and explore the shops and restaurants, visit the Cyrus Dallin Art Museum, or take a historic trolley tour of Arlington.

#9: Somerville

Median home price: $957,500 
Average sale price per square foot: $595 
Driving distance from Cambridge: 5 minutes
Somerville, MA homes for sale
Somerville, MA apartments for rent

Without traffic, you’ll be in downtown Cambridge in about 5 minutes, making Somerville a great place to rent or buy a home in. Close to 81,000 people live in this suburb, but you’ll be surrounded by areas to explore in your free time. Attractions in Somerville include visiting the historic Somerville Theatre, walking down Somerville’s charming main street, lined with shops and restaurants, or checking out the Somerville Public Library, one of the oldest public libraries in the country.

#10: Belmont

Median home price: $1,000,000 
Average sale price per square foot: $503 
Driving distance from Cambridge: 15 minutes
Belmont, MA homes for sale
Belmont, MA apartments for rent

Last but not least on our list of affordable suburbs of Cambridge, MA, is Belmont. Without traffic, you’ll find yourself in Cambridge in roughly 15 minutes. This suburb has a population of 27,300, and you can visit the Belmont Historical Society, the Belmont Public Library, the Belmont Farmer’s Market, or walk or run the miles of trails at Beaver Brook Reservation. There’s always something to check out while living in Belmont.

Methodology: Affordability is based on whether a suburb’s median home sale price or average sale price per square foot is less than Cambridge and under a 25-minute drive from downtown Cambridge. Median home sale price data from the Redfin Data Center during November 2022. Average rental data from Rent.com November 2022. Population data sourced from United States Census Bureau.

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