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Cambridge, Massachusetts sits just across the Charles River from Boston and packs an outsized academic punch, anchored by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology along the river and by a dense web of labs, startups, and students that gives the city its restless, brainy energy. MIT's campus opens onto the Charles, where riverfront paths draw runners and sailors and Killian Court frames the famous dome. The city is a string of distinct squares rather than one center, each with its own public life. Kendall Square has become a biotech and tech hub, while Harvard Square and Central Square buzz with bookshops, street musicians, and crowds at all hours.
Closest to MIT, Central Square stays lively day and night, full of music venues, varied restaurants, and the most walkable access to campus, a perennial favorite.
Transformed into a glassy tech and biotech district, Kendall Square is popular with grad students and anyone who wants to live where they work.
Trading some grit for charm, Harvard Square has bookshops, the historic common, and upscale apartments that pull in a polished crowd.
Here's what you need to know about getting around Cambridge.
Cambridge is built for people without cars, and students rarely bother with one. The MBTA Red Line is the spine of the city, with stops at Kendall, Central, Harvard, and Porter that put MIT and the major squares minutes apart and connect you straight into downtown Boston under the river. Buses fill in crosstown trips, and the system runs on the tap-to-pay CharlieCard. The Red Line makes getting to class and into Boston simple.
Walking is the real default here, since the squares sit close together and most of MIT is a flat, riverside stroll from Central or Kendall. Biking is hugely popular, helped by dedicated lanes, the Charles River paths, and the Bluebikes share program. You'll want lights and nerves for traffic. Most daily needs are covered on foot or by bike near campus.
Parking is genuinely painful, with permit-only streets and tight, costly lots, so a car is more burden than help. Most students skip one given how strong transit and walkability are. If you do bring a car, expect to pay for permits and struggle for spots. Day to day, you will not need to drive.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
Cambridge is expensive, largely because it competes with biotech and tech professionals for the same apartments. A room in a shared place near MIT or Central Square often runs about $1,300 to $1,800 a month, while studios and one-bedrooms in Kendall or Harvard Square frequently land between $2,800 and $4,000. Sharing with roommates is how most students make the numbers work.
Browse student housing near each Cambridge-area university.