Can A Physical Therapist Afford Rent in Cambridge, MA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 37.3% of gross income.

Cambridge rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Massachusetts state estimate).

Cambridge median rent
$3,598/mo
Physical Therapist salary (Massachusetts)
$115,664/yr
Rent as % of income
37.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $9,639, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,892/mo in rent. Cambridge's median rent of $3,598 exceeds that threshold by $706/mo, putting a physical therapist salary into the rent-burdened range here. A physical therapist works roughly 64.7 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a physical therapist salary

Physical therapist pay covers comfortable rent across most US metros. At the national-average PT salary, the 30% rule supports about $2,493 a month in rent, which is above the median in most cities tracked here.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Massachusetts cities have lower median rent than Cambridge, which improves the affordability math on a physical therapist salary:

Somerville, MA
$3,589/mo (37.2% of income)
Concord, MA
$3,588/mo (37.2% of income)
Concord, MA
$3,570/mo (37% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Cambridge

View full rent data for Cambridge, MA

Frequently asked questions

Can a physical therapist afford rent in Cambridge, MA?

Median rent in Cambridge is $3,598 a month. A typical physical therapist in Massachusetts earns about $115,664 a year, which makes that rent 37.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a physical therapist afford in Cambridge?

Using the 30% rule, a physical therapist salary in Massachusetts (~$115,664/yr) supports up to $2,892 a month in rent. Cambridge's current median rent is $3,598/mo, which is $706/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a physical therapist work to cover rent in Cambridge?

At an hourly equivalent of about $56 an hour, a physical therapist in Massachusetts works roughly 64.7 hours a month to cover Cambridge's median rent of $3,598.

Where is rent cheaper than Cambridge for a physical therapist?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Somerville ($3,589/mo), Concord ($3,588/mo), Concord ($3,570/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a physical therapist salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Massachusetts state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Cambridge, MA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.