Independent Living Communities in Cambridge, Massachusetts

CaringScore for Cambridge, MA

CaringScore was designed to help millions of Americans find the best places to retire, age in place, or receive eldercare. The CaringScore for independent living communities in Cambridge was based on more than 50 factors in three key categories: health, cost, and livability. By compiling and analyzing this data, Caring.com is able to rate the quality of life you or a loved one might expect should you choose independent living communities in Cambridge.

A CaringScore can range from 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and provides a quick way to compare cities, counties, and even specific zip codes. With a CaringScore of 5.4, Cambridge is on par with the national average for those seeking independent living communities.

The charts below highlight a few of the factors we used to calculate the CaringScore for Cambridge. Choose a category score to learn more.

Physicians Per Capita

Cost of Healthcare Index

Sunny Days Per Year

HealthScore for Cambridge, MA

HealthScore, a component of the overall CaringScore for independent living communities in Cambridge, rates a region on a scale of 1 (less healthful) to 10 (more healthful). It's specifically tailored to anyone looking for independent living communities. The HealthScore for Cambridge is based on the availability of healthcare resources, air and water quality, the overall health of the local population, and other key factors. With a HealthScore of 8.4, Cambridge rates above average for those seeking independent living communities.

Easy access to physicians -- especially geriatricians and other key specialists -- is important to older adults seeking independent living communities. At 389.3 physicians per capita, Cambridge scores 76.6 percent better than the national average. Cambridge scores 192.3 percent better than the national average in geriatricians per capita, with 3.8, and scores 64.6 percent better than the national average in specialists per capita, with 32.1. These medical specialists include cardiologists, oncologists, and orthopedists. The average life expectancy from birth in Cambridge is 80.9 years -- 3.9 percent higher than most of the country. The average life expectancy from birth in Cambridge is 80.9 years -- 3.9 percent higher than most of the country. and water quality -- another key measure of Cambridge's environmental health -- trails the national average by 21.8 percent.

Doctors Per Capita	Cambridge, MA	Nat'l Avg
Physicians	389.3	220.5
Geriatricians	3.8	1.3
Cardiologists	13	7.7
Oncologists	6.2	3.5
Orthopedists	9.2	7

Average Life Expectancy

CostScore for Cambridge, MA

CostScore, part of the overall CaringScore for independent living communities in Cambridge, rates the cost of living for older adults on a scale of 1 (more expensive) to 10 (less expensive). It's specifically tailored to people looking for independent living communities. The CostScore for Cambridge is based on data such as the average monthly cost of independent living communities in the region, the cost of housing and healthcare, regional tax rates, and other key factors. With a CostScore of 2.4, the costs associated with independent living communities in Cambridge are generally more expensive than the national average.

Because of the broad range of housing, service, and healthcare options available at independent living communities, no average monthly cost data is available for Cambridge. The entry fee or purchase price for an independent living community can range from $50,000 to $500,000 or more, and typically requires an additional monthly service fee of $1,000 to $3,000 on average. The cost of living indices below provide the best proxy for comparing costs of independent living communities in Cambridge to the rest of the country. Overall, the cost of living for Cambridge indexes at 76.0 percent higher than the national average. Average healthcare costs are 20.0 percent more expensive than the national average, and the cost of housing is 202.0 percent more expensive than average.

Cost of Living	Cambridge, MA
Aggregate Index	176
Healthcare Index	120
Housing Index	302
Food Index	122
Utilities Index	146
Transportation Index	107

Cost of Healthcare Index

LivabilityScore for Cambridge, MA

LivabilityScore makes up part of the overall CaringScore for independent living communities in Cambridge. On a scale of 1 (less livable) to 10 (more livable), it's a rating of the quality of life in a region, specifically tailored to those looking for independent living communities. The LivabilityScore for Cambridge is based on weather, crime rates, economic factors, average age of the population, and other key demographics. With a LivabilityScore of 4.8, Cambridge is on par with the national average for independent living communities.

Weather is an important factor in choosing the best place for independent living communities. The sun shines an average of 201 days each year in Cambridge, which is about average in the U.S. With an average temperature of 19°F in January, winters in Cambridge tend to be similar to other parts of the country, and summers are often more temperate than other places, averaging 84°F in July.

Local crime rates are another important indicator. The violent crime rate in Cambridge is 25.0 percent higher than the national average, and the property crime rate is 25.0 percent higher than average. At $64,126 per year, the population of Cambridge earns a better than average median household income. Cambridge has an unemployment rate of 4.30 percent, roughly 52.7 percent lower than the national average. And about 9.91 percent of the population in Cambridge is of retirement age -- 65 or older -- which trails the national average by 24.7 percent.

Sunny Days Per Year

Avg Temperature (°F)

Property Crime Index

Amenities Per Capita	Cambridge	"Nat'l Avg"
Parks	2.6	136.1
Libraries	5.2	18.8
Places of Worship	50.3	220.5
Public Transit	292.8	110.4
Grocery Stores	109.5	97.7
Pharmacies	16.8	13.8

Percent of Population Over Age 65