Cambridge, MN

8 Apartments for Rent

Cambridge is sometimes called the city that rose on the Rum River. The Rum River runs north to south in the middle of Cambridge, making the area ideal for the mills and manufacturing plants that drove its growth to cityhood.

Cambridge is a city in the state of Minnesota. It was established in 1866 and eventually became the seat of Isanti County. It covers an area of 7.68 square miles and enjoys access to major Minnesota transport junctions. It is situated along State Highways 95 and 65 and lies on the route of the BNSF Railway. Cambridge flourished in the 1900s with the advent of a flour mill, wool and spinning mill, a starch factory, and an electric lighting plant. Today, the city retains its reputation as one of the best places to live in Minnesota. Want to find out more? You betcha!

Moving to Cambridge

Cambridge shares the continental climate of the Midwest region. The best time of year to make your move is definitely summer, from June to August. Just avoid the peak of heat in mid-July. The rest of the year can be erratic, with rains prevalent between May and June, but rain can also disrupt a few summer days. As you might guess, winter is the least advantageous time to move to Cambridge-even native Minnesotans stay indoors as much as possible during the brutal winter months. That said, if you're determined to find a place here, don't let some below-zero temperatures and unbelievable wind chill values stand in your way!

The city is animal-friendly, so you won't need to leave FiFi and Fido behind. Even with acres of underdeveloped land, hunting of any type of animals from the smallest bird to the largest river reptile is prohibited. Animal cruelty is penalized and proper animal care on feeding and keeping are monitored.

Public amenities are run by the city and quite efficient, and opportunities for business or employment make Cambridge great for folks seeking a new home. The good news is rental rates are generally affordable, even by Minnesota standards. Accommodation services are among the city's stable businesses, so you'll have no trouble finding a temporary home as you search for more a more permanent residence.

Whether you're eyeing a rental home in Cambridge or an apartment for rent, landlords prefer a rent to income ratio of 10 to 15 percent, although this is the ideal rate. The important thing is to prove you can pay the monthly obligations with a stable source of income. As such, prepare a file of your pay slips for the last two months, latest filed Form 1040 or individual income tax returns and receipts of other sources of income, if applicable. A good credit record (auto or bank loan), a flawless payment history for a rented property in the past and an encouraging endorsement letter from your previous landlord or employer should also help you get into the tenant shortlist. Now comes the fun part-collecting all this paperwork. No one said renting would be totally painless!

Cambridge Neighborhoods

New England settlers were lured to move to Cambridge because of its abundant timber. The first settlers here used this timber to build their homes and then create lumberyards. (Incidentally, Minnesota is said to be the home state of fabled lumberjack Paul Bunyan and Babe, his blue ox.) Oaks and pines were abundant especially in the northeast and northwest of Cambridge.

Today, the majority of Cambridge neighborhoods are made up of single-family homes, while subdivision developments cater to a more organized and uniform community housing based on the city plan. The emphasis is on residential homes but there are also apartment developments in select areas in the city.

Rum River Drive: This is a wide stretch of busy residential neighborhoods, with combination of properties from large homes with four and five bedrooms to single family homes and many subdivision lots for rent.

Main Street: The Main Street community is predominantly a rental housing area with a growing mid-rise development. Check out this area for 1 or 2 bedroom apartment for rent. The side towards Dellwood Street also has condos for rent.

Fairgrounds Campground: This is a community of RV home campers along Highway 95. It is made up of 40 camping sites with amenities including water and electricity. Snowmobile trails can also be found here-when the blizzards start, at least you'll have a way to get around!

Living in Cambridge

The city is serviced by the Cambridge Municipal Bus Route while the Heartland Express provides two extension routes connecting to Route 285 Commuter Bus. For those flying to the city, there's the Cambridge Municipal Airport and the Troll Farm Airport 5 miles north of Cambridge.

Most residents here prefer to drive their own cars, but carpooling is also popular. The average commute time is just 8 to 10 minutes one way, among the shortest in the state. Cambridge has a walk score of 94, which makes it a veritable walker's paradise! If you feel up to it, leave your car in the garage and snowmobile in the driveway, and lace up your sneakers instead.

Second Avenue is the city's retail haven, with Sears Hometown, Dollar Bell and Walmart all located here. Other retail shops nearby include the Cambridge Mall on Buchanan Street, Target on Balsam Street and The Village Mall on Fern Street, plus various outlet malls scattered around the city.

Favorite dining spots include Applebee's on North Balsam Street and Perkins of Cambridge on North Garfield Street for some good old American food, House of Liu on Second Avenue South West if you're in the mood for Chinese, and Herman's Bakery and Coffee Shop on South Main Street for some quick coffee and buns.

Cambridge is a park city, with hundreds of acres devoted to park development. The Cambridge City Park is the biggest in the city's park system, but it's more than just a typical green patch but a historic testament to the city. In 1908, after a resident wrote to the village paper about the need for a people's park, cleanup and mowing of the river underbrush immediately commenced and a woodmen picnic was held. Then a pavilion was built to house village meetings. Swimming and boating decks were constructed followed by picnic grounds and a skating rink. Since that time, the park has undergone numerous renovations, and it remains a great place to while away the afternoon.

Other parks include Peterson Park, Water Tower Park, Brown Park and Claes Johnson Recreation Area, all servicing specific neighborhoods in the city.

If park trails are too tame for you, grab your clubs and plaid pants and head to the Purple Hawk Golf Club on Road 1 and Spring Brook Golf Course on 200th Avenue. Both are semi-private, 18-hole par 70 turf properties. The Cambridge Bowling Center on North Main Street provides entertainment for those who don't have caddies.

Cambridge offers a great mix of outdoor and indoor recreation, and its citizens are darn nice, to boot. Thinking of relocating? Keep Cambridge top of mind!