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City · 13,152 residents · Dorchester County, Maryland

Cambridge , Maryland

In Cambridge, a typical home is worth $257,900 and typical rent is $1,058 a month. Compared with all of Dorchester County, typical household income is 23% lower and the share of households that own their home is 24 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $257,900

    About the same as the county

    39% below Maryland

    • Cambridge
    • Dorchester
    • Maryland

  • Typical rent

    $1,058a month

    3% above the county

    38% below Maryland

    • Cambridge
    • Dorchester
    • Maryland

  • Typical household income

    $47,323a year

    23% below the county

    54% below Maryland

    • Cambridge
    • Dorchester
    • Maryland

  • Households that own their home

    41%

    24 points below the county

    27 points below Maryland

    • Cambridge
    • Dorchester
    • Maryland

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$259,536
about the same as 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,867 a month

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Cambridge is in Dorchester County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Dorchester County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Cambridge apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Cambridge has the lowest typical household income of the 202 cities in Maryland with more than 5,000 people: $47,323.

  2. 41% of households in Cambridge own their home, against 66% in Dorchester County.

  3. Cambridge has the 5th lowest typical rent of the 195 cities in Maryland with more than 5,000 people ($1,058).

  4. Cambridge has the 13th lowest typical home value of the 202 cities in Maryland with more than 5,000 people ($257,900).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Cambridge

What homes there are in Cambridge, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

Detached houses are the majority in Cambridge (57%), but less so than in Dorchester County (73%).

Year built

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

The FHA limit for Dorchester County is high ($541,287): at least 92% of owner-occupied homes in Cambridge are worth less than $500,000.

Monthly rent with utilities

About 57% of rented homes in Cambridge cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent for Dorchester County ($1,159); the rest cost more.

With a mortgage

$1,852 a month

Dorchester County: $1,704 a month

Without a mortgage

$631 a month

Dorchester County: $597 a month

Owners with a mortgage

55%

Dorchester County: 55%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Cambridge is $1,852 a month, more than in Dorchester County ($1,704); without one, $631.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

Since 2015–2019, homes in Cambridge gained value faster than in Dorchester County: 58% against 43%.

Rents in Cambridge rose faster than in Dorchester County: 24% since 2015–2019, against 17%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureCambridgeDorchester CountyMarylandUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate4.7%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0.8%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate2.5%3.4%
People per household 2.272.382.572.53
Drive alone 74%79%65%69%
Carpool 14%10%8%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate4%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate2%2%3%
Work from home 7%7%19%15%
Other means Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate2%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

By size, households in Cambridge look like those in Dorchester County: 2.27 people on average.

Carpooling is common in Cambridge: 14% of workers get to work that way, against 10% in Dorchester County.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Cambridge?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Cambridge, worth $257,900, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 55% of the typical household income in Cambridge, which is $47,323 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $92,316 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Dorchester County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Cambridge. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $9,027 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$2,154

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$253,228
Total interest
$364,336
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $4,355 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,104 a month

  • Tight

    $1,104 to $1,420 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,420 a month

    Your payment · 55%

Compared with the typical household income in Cambridge ($47,323 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$2,154
Principal & interest$1,715
Property tax$217
Home insurance$108
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$114

You need at least $9,027 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Cambridge and Dorchester County

Cambridge is in Dorchester County, Maryland. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Cambridge's own numbers

Typical home value
$257,900
Typical monthly rent
$1,058
Typical yearly household income
$47,323
Households that own their home
41%
Effective property tax rate
1.01%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Dorchester County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,159
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+59%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
15%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Dorchester County.

Everything about Dorchester County

Buying

Buying a home in Cambridge

A typical home in Cambridge is worth $257,900: about the same as the county and 39% below Maryland. With the typical household income in Cambridge ($47,323 a year), a typical home costs 5.4 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Cambridge 5.4 years
  • Dorchester 4.2 years
  • Maryland 4.1 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Dorchester County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Dorchester County rose 88% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Dorchester County.

Period County Maryland U.S.
Last year (2025) +2.8% +2.7% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +59% +40% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +88% +60% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Cambridge next to Dorchester County, Maryland and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Cambridge $257,900
  • Dorchester $262,400
  • Maryland $419,900
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Cambridge $1,058
  • Dorchester $1,032
  • Maryland $1,705
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Cambridge $47,323
  • Dorchester $61,839
  • Maryland $103,678
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Cambridge next to Dorchester County and Maryland
Measure Cambridge Dorchester County Maryland U.S.
Typical home value $257,900 $262,400 $419,900 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,058 $1,032 $1,705 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $47,323 $61,839 $103,678 $80,734
Households that own their home 41% 66% 68% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $2,617 $2,456 $4,093 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 1.01% 0.94% 0.97% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 63% 56% 51% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Dorchester County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Cambridge

For a typical $257,900 home in Cambridge, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Cambridge's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $2,154a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $9,027
    Cash to close
    $16,764
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $114

  • Conventional, 5% down $2,107a month

    Down payment
    $12,895
    Cash to close
    $20,632
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $123

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,722a month

    Down payment
    $51,580
    Cash to close
    $59,317
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,961a month

    Down payment
    $38,685
    Cash to close
    $46,422
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Cambridge and for Dorchester County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Cambridge

1.01%of the home’s value each year

$2,617 a year for the typical owner in Cambridge.

  • Cambridge 1.01%
  • Dorchester 0.94%
  • Maryland 0.97%

What Maryland publishes Homestead tax credit (cap on yearly assessment increases) (Maryland General Assembly (Annotated Code of Maryland, Tax-Property Article))

Exemptions and deadlines in Maryland

Flood risk in Dorchester County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Dorchester County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
15%
2,374
Of those, with NFIP insurance
49%
County Maryland U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 15% 1.2% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 49% 74% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Cambridge

Typical rent in Cambridge is $1,058 a month: 3% above the county. In Cambridge, 63% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Dorchester County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,159 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $22.29 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Dorchester County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $868 $16.69 $34,720
1 bedroom $970 $18.65 $38,800
2 bedrooms $1,159 $22.29 $46,360
3 bedrooms $1,605 $30.87 $64,200
4 bedrooms $1,937 $37.25 $77,480

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Cambridge

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Cambridge is in ZIP code 21613.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,150: $9 less than the fair market rent for Dorchester County ($1,159).

  • 21613 $1,150$1,590

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Cambridge when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Cambridge

HUD lists 17 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Cambridge. These are the largest.

  • Calvin Mowbray Park & Stephen Camper Park 700 Weaver Ave, Cambridge 21613 190 low-income homes · For families (410) 228-6856
  • Calvin Mowbray Park 700 Weaver Ave, Cambridge 21613 190 homes, 150 low-income · 1 bd: 20 · 2 bd: 30 · 3 bd: 100 · In service since 2018 · For families
  • Bay Country Apts. 522 Greenwood Ave, Cambridge 21613 144 low-income homes · 1 bd: 21 · 2 bd: 48 · 3 bd: 75 · In service since 2018 · For people with disabilities, families (410) 228-0448
  • Cambridge Park 500 Greenwood Ave, Cambridge 21613 144 low-income homes · 1 bd: 21 · 2 bd: 48 · 3 bd: 75 · In service since 2003 · For people with disabilities, families
  • Bradford House 701 Race St, Cambridge 21613 121 low-income homes · For older adults (410) 228-0110

See all 19 buildings in Dorchester County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Cambridge

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Dorchester County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A pregnant woman reads paperwork on the sofa while the grandmother plays with the girl on the floor.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Cambridge

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Cambridge or Dorchester County. The ones below are statewide in Maryland: they work in Cambridge the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Maryland

  • MMP 1st Time Advantage

    Statewide in Maryland

    Maryland Mortgage Program mortgages for first-time buyers, with a deferred 0% second mortgage for the down payment: $6,000, or 3%, 4% or 5% of the loan. Offered by Maryland Mortgage Program (Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

  • MMP Flex Loans

    Statewide in Maryland

    Maryland Mortgage Program mortgages for first-time buyers and for people who have owned a home before; Flex 6000 brings $6,000 and Flex 3% brings 3% of the loan for the down payment, as a deferred 0% second loan. Offered by Maryland Mortgage Program (Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

  • Maryland SmartBuy

    Statewide in Maryland

    Maryland Mortgage Program loan of up to 15% of the price (maximum $25,000) to pay off your student debt when you buy a home; no interest or monthly payments, and forgiven after five years if you stay in the home. Offered by Maryland Mortgage Program (Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development).

    Forgivable

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Cambridge

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Cambridge, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Habitat for Humanity Choptank

    29349 Maple Ave, Trappe · 7 miles away

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Budget and credit workshops
    • and 8 more
    (410) 476-3204

  • Salisbury Neighborhood Housing Service, Inc

    560 Riverside Dr Ste A102, Salisbury · 29 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 7 more
    (410) 543-4626

  • Maryland Rural Development Corporation (MRDC)

    101 Cedar Lane, Greensboro · 33 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 5 more
    (410) 482-4800

All counseling agencies in Maryland

Help in Spanish near Cambridge

1 of the 3 agencies on this list says it serves in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Cambridge

HUD’s record names them for Cambridge or Dorchester County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

All housing agencies in Maryland Source: HUD

Cities

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Cambridge, with the typical home value.

Everything about Dorchester County Housing in Maryland

Neighboring counties

If Dorchester County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Cambridge.

All guides
A father holds his baby and his young son by a white picket fence.

Questions

Housing questions about Cambridge

Short answers with the numbers for Cambridge and all of Dorchester County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Cambridge?

The typical home value in Cambridge is $257,900, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Dorchester County it is $262,400.

How much does it cost to rent in Cambridge?

Typical rent in Cambridge is $1,058 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Dorchester County is $1,159.

What is the FHA loan limit in Cambridge?

Cambridge uses the FHA limit for all of Dorchester County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Cambridge?

The typical homeowner in Cambridge pays $2,617 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.01% of the home’s value; in Dorchester County, the rate is 0.94%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Cambridge?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Dorchester County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).