Cambridge Apartments and Rentals

Fittingly named after the prestigious university in England, Cambridge, Massachusetts, is home to two of the most distinguished schools of higher learning in the world. The city is full of history, located right outside of downtown Boston and full of surprises, providing families and adventurous people with an excellent place to reside.

Originally known as "the newe towne," the city provides individuals with an easy commute to the Massachusetts capital, numerous museums and public art for viewing and historical sites to visit. People looking for Cambridge apartments for rent will have many areas to choose from, each with its own unique feel and flavor.

The city of Cambridge was founded in 1630, but was known as Newtowne for eight years until the name was switched in favor of the university in England that gave many of its settlers an education. It was out of this educational inspiration that Harvard College was founded, as new ministers were trained at the school.

Evolving over a period that included the American Revolution and numerous redistricting attempts by the Massachusetts government, Cambridge was officially incorporated as a city in 1846. The many cultures that had come to the city in the 19th century shaped the various neighborhoods of the metropolis, and much of that diversity can be seen today.

There are more than 105,000 Cantabrigians, as the locals are called, and Cambridge apartments are scattered around the city in a number of different "squares." These areas often contain a number of establishments, including bars, unique and personalized shops and cultural food stores.

Though the city used to be a manufacturing haven, supported by a diverse, working class population and the Charles River, educational establishments are currently the top employers in Cambridge. Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology support almost 20,000 jobs, and biomedical firms and other science-related companies employ many people who graduate from these prestigious institutions. These firms include Genzyme, Biogen Idec and Millennium Pharmaceuticals.

MIT and Harvard aren't the only schools in the city, but they are two of the most celebrated academic centers of the world. These higher education facilities dominate distinct areas in the metropolis and many of the Cambridge apartments for rent are taken by competitive students that are looking for a short commute to their respective school.

A number of Nobel Prize winners went to these two schools, and Harvard will forever be linked with Facebook by younger generations due to its prominent role in the development of founder Mark Zuckerberg.

There are many different areas within the city where people choose to live, as the younger crowd tends to dominate the space right around the schools, while families and young couples scatter around many of the suburb-esque neighborhoods. 

The median gross rent in Cambridge is $1,471 per month, but there are much cheaper options once one decides to look away from the popular squares that make up parts of the city.

The city is great for walking, as people can stroll through the many cultural centers of Cambridge or take a scenic jaunt right by the Charles River. There are five stops on the T - as the subway system is known to locals - in the metropolis, giving residents easy access to Boston and other parts of the area.

To find a Cambridge apartment or rental, check out our apartment listings. Rent.com® is happy to help you find your next home.