ZIP 02142
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Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in ZIP 02142 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in October 2022.
Rent in ZIP 02142 changed +5.1% over the year to September 2026. Across the 140 Massachusetts ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.0%.
Rent has risen 9 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($147,723) is $3,693 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($3,380); a 2-bedroom is $4,010.
5th cheapest of 5 ZIP codes in Cambridge.
ZIP 02116, 1 mile away, rents for 13% less ($3,412/mo), about $6,200 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 02142. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
Who lives here
ZIP 02142 (Cambridge, MA) is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income above the national average, 89.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How ZIP 02142 in Cambridge, MA has changed in 5 years
The median rent in ZIP 02142 in Cambridge, MA stood at $3,602 in 2023 and currently runs about $3,925, reflecting a 9.0% increase over the period. On the earnings side, the typical household in ZIP 02142 in Cambridge, MA now reports about $147,723, up from $137,723 in 2021. The population has grown by 13.5% since 2021, moving from about 4,172 residents to roughly 4,737. Renters now make up 93.1% of households, compared with 85.9% five years ago. For context, the 2023 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and ZIP 02142 in Cambridge, MA reflects that arc in its own way.
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Tips for renters in ZIP 02142
Last updated: October 17, 2026
ZIP code 02142 covers Cambridge, MA. The median rent here is $3,925/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $3,380/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $4,010/mo.
At 32% of local median household income ($147,723/yr), ZIP 02142 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.1% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does ZIP 02142 compare to other ZIPs in Massachusetts?
How does ZIP 02142 compare to the rest of Cambridge?
At $3,925/mo, rent takes ~32% of ZIP 02142's median household income ($147,723/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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