Cambridge is often referred to as "Boston's Left Bank" for its charm and character, as well as its proximity to the city. The city is teeming with cafes, bookstores, and boutiques all around and is home to an annual science festival which makes science accessible, interactive and fun. The prime attractions of Cambridge that lure visitors to the city are the Longfellow National Historic Site, the Harvard Museum of Natural History and the MIT Museum and Harvard University.
Being the home of Harvard University, Cambridge has long been thought of as an intellectual's town, and that kind of character and allure can be seen throughout the city, from its sidewalk cafes and bistros, to its many tree-lined streets and stunning architecture that transports you to an earlier time.
This guide will provide you with some helpful tips and information on just about everything you need to know if you're going to be making the move to Cambridge. From the city's neighborhoods and school systems to the employment options and recreational activities available within the city, you'll find it all in this guide so that you can go into your move with the knowledge that is needed to make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible.
Cambridge Climate
Cambridge has a humid continental climate, typical of most of the New England region and the state of Massachusetts. July is typically the hottest month in the state, while January is the coldest month with temperatures that can drop below 20 degrees.
Because of the humid continental climate that Cambridge experiences, the city's summers tend to be very warm and sometimes humid. Spring and fall temperatures are usually pleasant and one of the main attractions in Massachusetts is the perfect fall weather, with mild days and crisp, cool nights. The area may receive occasionally heavy snowfall during the winter season, which occurs from mid-December to early March.
Cambridge Geography and Neighborhoods
The geography and layout of Cambridge has given it the nickname of "City of Squares" mainly because, well, there are a lot of squares in Cambridge. For example, you can find all of these neighborhoods and locations within the city limits of Cambridge: Kendall Square, Central Square, Harvard Square, Porter Square, Inman Square and Lechmere Square. That's a lot of squares.
Each of these areas is unique in its own right, but all of them contain the cozy warmth and charm that is characteristic of Cambridge's diverse neighborhoods, and you're always bound to find young students walking briskly to and from class or the library or their favorite café wearing Harvard crimson. Kendall Square is also known as Technology Square, and the flourishing biotech industry has developed in this neighborhood, which is also the home to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, or MIT for short.
Harvard Square is one of the more famous neighborhoods in Cambridge and is the home to most of the campus of Harvard University, as well as an interesting nightlife scene with local Harvard bars, clubs and hangouts, as well as many stores and places to shop. This pleasant neighborhood is accessible by both the Red Line and by bus and also contains Eliot Square and Brattle Square.
Living Costs in the City
Cambridge is one of the most upscale areas in the Greater Boston metropolitan area, and its proximity to the city of Boston, as well as its flourishing intellectual and technology sectors and bustling economy, make it rather expensive to live here. The cost of living in Cambridge is very high, with rent prices being comparable to other major cities, such as nearby Boston. While the city's location is partly responsible for a higher cost of living, on average, especially when it comes to real estate costs and secondary expenses, Cambridge contains many upscale residential neighborhoods and is home to affluent residents and professors from nearby Harvard and MIT.
The median family income in Cambridge is $85,651, which is much higher than the national average. The median home price for an average home in Cambridge is $445,000, extremely high when compared to other surrounding areas outside of the Greater Boston metropolitan areas and much higher than the national average as well.
Registering Your Car
It is necessary for you to have Massachusetts insurance in order to obtain motor vehicle registration. You must have the insurance agent stamp on your application for the vehicle to be registered. Once the application has the insurance stamp, you can take it to any Massachusetts RMV office for processing. You will then receive a registration certificate and registrations must be renewed yearly.
If you already have a driver's license from the state you have moved, you must go to the Massachusetts RMV location and get your license transferred to Massachusetts. You must also submit to a mandatory vision test and pay a transfer fee. And in case you do not have a valid license, you must go through the process of applying for a permit and license. If you are under the age of 18, you will be eligible for a junior operator's license.
Cambridge Moving Resources
Moving and storage companies are ready and willing to help you with your move to Cambridge, whether you're moving from out of state or from another county in Massachusetts. Make sure you get estimates from multiple moving services before you commit to hiring any (at least three estimates). Check back to our guides for tips on how to choose your moving service wisely with important questions to ask, differentiating between types of estimates, and mistakes to avoid. Visit the following pages at Movers.com to get quotes for the following services:
Cambridge Schools
The Cambridge Public School District is the district that provides public education to the students of Cambridge. The district is comprised of 12 elementary schools and five middle schools, which are called "Upper Schools" in the Cambridge Public School system. The elementary schools run from grades K-5 while the Upper Schools are for grades 6-8. There are also three public high schools in Cambridge, including the Cambridge Rindge and Latin School.
Known primarily for its world-class and internationally renowned institutes of higher education, Cambridge is best known as an academic and intellectual center and is home to universities such as Harvard University, MIT, Cambridge College, Cambridge School of Culinary Arts, Hult International Business School, Lesley University, and the Longy School of Music.
Cambridge Employment
Although Cambridge was mainly a manufacturing city in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with industry being one of the main sectors of the economy, things are much different today, as educational institutions like Harvard and MIT are the city's largest employers. The biotech industry is also one of the big players in the city's economy today, and companies like Genzyme, Biogen Idec, Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Sanofi and Pfizer are some of the health care and pharmaceutical firms located in the city.
The top 10 employers in Cambridge, according to a recent comprehensive annual financial report, are Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mount Auburn Hospital, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Biogenic Idec, Cambridge Health Alliance, Genzyme, Federal Government and Charles Stark Draper Laboratory. The local economy and job market is in a period of growth and the current unemployment rate is at a low 3.5 percent as of March 2013, on a decline from previous figures in 2011 and 2012, while the job growth rate is at 4.36 percent.
Public Transportation
Mass transit in Cambridge is provided by the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA) and there are stops in Cambridge for the Commuter Rail line, the Green Line and the Red Line. There are five stops in Cambridge on the Red Line, including Alewife, Porter Square, Harvard Square, Central Square and Kendall/MIT. The Boston intercity bus and train stations and the Boston Logan International Airport are all accessible by subway. Walking is also a popular activity and many bike paths are present throughout the city as well.
Culture and Contemporary Life
There's certainly no shortage of interesting sites to see in Cambridge, and the city's many educational institutions provide residents and visitors alike with museums, art displays, concerts and historic architecture that cater to all different kinds of tastes and interests. The Harvard Art Museum and Harvard Museum of Natural History are just two of the many museums located in the city, along with the MIT Museum and the List Visual Arts Center, both at MIT. If you're into touring the many historic sites in the city, you can visit the Longfellow House and Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site, home of the famous poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and headquarters of George Washington, before him.
Moving to Cambridge
Whatever your reasons for moving to Cambridge, whether it be for a change of scenery or for employment, the city beckons you with its charm. The first step in the process of moving to Cambridge is choosing a moving company after first checking their BBB ratings, insurance and license. The moving rates are charged by the hour if you are moving within the state boundary, while for a long distance move the charges will depend on the total weight or volume in cubic feet of your belongings. In the latter case, you can ask about a flat rate or any special discounts that are available with the mover.