Overview of Findings
Apartment List has released Cambridge’s results from the third annual Apartment List Renter Satisfaction Survey. This survey, which drew on responses from over 45,000 renters, provides insight on what states and cities must do to meet the needs of 111 million American renters nationwide.
"Cambridge renters expressed general satisfaction with the city overall," according to Apartment List. "With expensive rents in coastal cities, it comes as no surprise that cost of living is a source of dissatisfaction in Cambridge."
Key findings in Cambridge include the following:
- Cambridge renters gave their city an A+ overall.
- The highest-rated categories for Cambridge were jobs and career opportunities, safety and low crime rate, quality of local schools and commute time, which all received A+ grades.
- The areas of concern to Cambridge renters are weather (D) and affordability (F).
- Cambridge did relatively well compared to other cities in Massachusetts, including Worcester and Springfield, which both received F grades.
- Cambridge did relatively well compared to other cities, including San Diego, CA (A-), Austin, TX (A-) and Charlotte, NC (A-).
- The top rated cities nationwide for renter satisfaction include Scottsdale, AZ, Irvine, CA, Boulder, CO and Ann Arbor, MI. The lowest rated cities include Tallahassee, FL, Stockton, CA, Dayton, OH, Detroit, MI and Newark, NJ.
Renters say:
- "Lots of cool places to eat and explore." – Ellie Z.
- "A very accepting city for students or foreigners. A lot of good shops and restaurants are popping up." – Edith F.
- "We love it here! It is close to work and very dog-friendly for our fur babies. But it is too expensive and there is no way I could follow the 1/3 of income rule for rent. Even a studio apartment takes most of my income." – Alison T.
- "Cambridge is a great place to raise a family, but prices are a bit higher than average." – Aleksandra C.
For more information on the survey methodology and findings or to speak to one of our researchers, please contact our team at rentonomics@apartmentlist.com.
