Cambridge is a small town of 885 in Iowa, with a median household income of $69,038
and a 4.8% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is
9% below the national average.
Strengths:
Cambridge stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Cambridge is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Cambridge city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 91.4
Cambridge's overall cost of living index is 91.4,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Cambridge costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.
Metric
Cambridge, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$161,200
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$890
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
82.8%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$69,038
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Cambridge's violent crime rate is 118.4 per 100,000 residents
— 69% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
118.4 /100k
Property Crime
1179.0 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Cambridge is served primarily by Ballard Comm School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.2:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Cambridge, IA
National Avg
School District
Ballard Comm School District
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.2:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
17.6%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
95.5%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Cambridge sees average highs of 28.0°F in January
and 83.9°F in July,
with 38.1 inches of annual precipitation
and 27.3 inches of snow per year.
Cambridge's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Cambridge roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $161,200 and median rent is $890/month.
Cambridge's violent crime rate is 118.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1179.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Cambridge are operated by Ballard Comm School District.
The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.2:1. 17.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Cambridge, IA has a population of 885, a median household income of $69,038, and an unemployment rate of 4.8%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Cambridge averages 28.0°F in January and 83.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.1 inches
with about 27.3 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Cambridge, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50046.
The population of Cambridge, Iowa is 885 with a median age of 38.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Cambridge: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $161,200, median household income $69,038, crime index 41 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Cambridge side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
