Cambridge is a small town of 2,251 in Illinois, with a median household income of $74,145
and a 4.9% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is
11% below the national average.
Strengths:
Cambridge stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B).
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: 89.3
Cambridge's overall cost of living index is 89.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Cambridge costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.
Metric
Cambridge, IL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$118,100
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$931
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
89.4%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$74,145
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Cambridge's violent crime rate is 22.5 per 100,000 residents
— 94% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
22.5 /100k
Property Crime
257.6 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Cambridge is served primarily by Cambridge CUSD 227.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.7:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Cambridge, IL
National Avg
School District
Cambridge CUSD 227
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.7:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
19.2%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
93.6%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Cambridge sees average highs of 30.8°F in January
and 85.7°F in July,
with 37.4 inches of annual precipitation
and 26.8 inches of snow per year.
Cambridge's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Cambridge roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $118,100 and median rent is $931/month.
Cambridge's violent crime rate is 22.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 257.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Cambridge are operated by Cambridge CUSD 227.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.7:1. 19.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Cambridge, IL has a population of 2,251, a median household income of $74,145, and an unemployment rate of 4.9%.
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 30.8°F in January and 85.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 37.4 inches
with about 26.8 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Cambridge, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 61238.
The population of Cambridge, Illinois is 2,251 with a median age of 37.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Cambridge: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $118,100, median household income $74,145, crime index 8 (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.
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