The story of this market
The typical home in ZIP 02142 sells for about $917,000, or $979 per square foot.
Prices are up +1.37% from a year ago, so sellers still have some momentum. Homes take about 98 days to sell, which is slow. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $3,810 a month.
ZIP 02142 — Cambridge
The 02142 housing market remains a high-demand, high-value enclave driven by its proximity to Kendall Square's biotech cluster. While inventory is tight and prices are elevated, the market shows stability with consistent demand from high-income professionals. Note that some specific metrics like months of supply and sale-to-list ratio are estimated based on broader Cambridge market trends as ZIP-specific figures were not explicitly published.
This ZIP is ideal for biotech professionals, academics, and urban commuters who prioritize proximity to major employment hubs and transit over suburban space.
Median prices moved up 1.4% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 98 days on market with 2.5 months of supply — a balanced-paced market.
26% of listings have cut prices · homes sell at 98.5% of asking — demand is running ahead of supply.
no recorded foreclosure-ledger notices (0.0 per 10,000 residents) · unemployment 3.5% · poverty 21.0% — a stable, low-distress profile.
versus the prior ACS vintage
ZCTA 02142, Middlesex County, MA
Reported crime trends are consistent with a dense, commercial-adjacent urban environment; as part of Cambridge, it benefits from localized urban policing and generally lower violent crime rates compared to larger regional urban centers.
Schools serving this ZIP are part of the Cambridge Public Schools district, which generally maintains high ratings due to significant municipal funding and the presence of world-class academic institutions nearby.
The area faces elevated risks related to climate change; approximately 82% of properties are at risk of flooding over the next 30 years, and the area experiences significant "heat factor" exposure due to dense urban development.
The area is a major hub for biotechnology and life sciences, anchored by proximity to MIT and Kendall Square, driving significant commercial and residential development.
Composed from the ARED governance burden registry — tier-native tax structure (state + county + city + special districts), never averaged. State (Massachusetts) — Massachusetts Local Property Tax: Ad valorem tax calculated as (Municipal Budget / Total Assessed Value of all taxable property) = Tax Rate per $1,000 of assessed value. Assessments must be at 100% of full and fair cash (market) value.
The ZIP is highly transit-oriented, served by the MBTA Red Line at Kendall/MIT station, providing direct access to downtown Boston and surrounding employment hubs.
The area features proximity to the Charles River Esplanade for walking and cycling, as well as numerous dining and retail options within the Kendall Square innovation district.
The rental market is characterized by high demand and premium pricing due to the concentration of academic and biotech professionals, with low vacancy pressure.
The economy is dominated by the life sciences, biotechnology, and higher education sectors, with major anchors including MIT and numerous global pharmaceutical firms.
The area is served by the MBTA Red Line and extensive bus networks, facilitating a high-density urban commute.
Ongoing development focuses on high-density laboratory and residential projects to support the growing biotech workforce.
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Parcels are subject to City of Cambridge municipal taxes and standard Massachusetts school district funding.
Increased insurance premiums are likely for property owners due to the documented flood and climate risk profiles.
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Data retrieved from Census Reporter and IncomeByZipCode based on ACS 2024 5-year estimates.
- Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum4.61.8 mi
- F1 Arcade Boston4.52.1 mi
- Museum of Illusions Boston4.51.5 mi
- Boda Borg Boston4.74.4 mi
- K1 Speed Boston-Wilmington4.213.9 mi
- Fenway Park4.81.4 mi
- TD Garden4.61.1 mi
- Thomas M. Menino Convention & Exhibition Center4.52.2 mi
- Topgolf Boston - Canton3.912.2 mi
- MGM Music Hall at Fenway4.41.3 mi
- Fenway Park4.81.4 mi
- Boston Common4.71 mi
- Museum of Fine Arts, Boston4.81.8 mi
- New England Aquarium4.41.7 mi
- Harvard Square4.62 mi
- Museum of Fine Arts, Boston4.81.8 mi
- Boston Public Library4.81 mi
- Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum4.72 mi
- Museum of Science4.70.7 mi
- Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum4.61.8 mi
- Boston Common4.71 mi
- Franklin Park Zoo4.44.1 mi
- Public Garden4.80.9 mi
- Charles River Esplanade4.80.6 mi
- Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University4.84.4 mi
- Community Boating, Inc.4.60.5 mi
- MIT Sailing Pavilion4.90.4 mi
- Atlantic Wharf4.61.7 mi
- Constitution Marina4.61.3 mi
- Charlestown Marina4.81.9 mi
- Topgolf Boston - Canton3.912.2 mi
- Granite Links Golf Club4.68.4 mi
- Robert T. Lynch Municipal Golf Course3.95.4 mi
- George Wright4.57.1 mi
- Newton Commonwealth Golf Course44.7 mi
- Encore Boston Harbor4.32.3 mi
- Burlington Mall4.410.6 mi
- Prudential Center Boston4.51.1 mi
- Quincy Market4.51.4 mi
- Faneuil Hall Marketplace4.51.4 mi
- Boston Logan International Airport4.13.7 mi
- Park Shuttle & Fly4.53.9 mi
- The Lounge3.43.4 mi
- DaCoopas Pizza4.13 mi
Theme parks, venues, golf, airports, museums, water and shopping across the area from Google Maps, ranked by popularity within the radius shown.
A global hub for biotechnology and technology companies.
Extensive waterfront park system offering trails and recreational space.
Key-figure check: no independent anchor retained yet — first-researched cycles establish the anchor baseline this pass.