The Town FilesCambridge, Maryland
City in Dorchester County · population 13,096 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $257,900
- Household income
- $47,323
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 14 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 39.4
Cambridge is a city of 13,096 people in Dorchester County, Maryland. The median home is worth $257,900, below the typical Maryland town ($412,300). It ranks better for a vacation home than 96% of Maryland towns, better for cycling than 86% of Maryland towns, hipper than 83% of Maryland towns.
How Cambridge ranks
Percentile among Maryland towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Maryland towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Cambridge is worth $257,900, below the typical Maryland town ($412,300). Homes cost about 5.4 times the median household income of $47,323, which is more affordable than 9% of Maryland towns. Median rent is $1,058 a month. 41.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Cambridge | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $257,900 | $412,300 |
| Median rent | $1,058 | $1,748 |
| Median household income | $47,323 | $108,677 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.4× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 41.1% | 77.3% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.4% | — |
Who lives in Cambridge
| People | Cambridge | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.4 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.1% | 16.4% |
| Under 18 | 21.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.1% | 39.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 26.4% | 7.1% |
| Veterans | 8.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.4% | — |
| Work from home | 6.9% | 17.4% |
| Average commute | 23.5 min | 31.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.8% | 94.3% |
Weather in Cambridge
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 29.3°F. About 47.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 14.1 inches of snow (typical Maryland town: 15.9 in). Expect about 32 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 69 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cambridge since 1950, compared with 18 for the typical Maryland town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on July 28, 2026 about 8.2 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 6 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 28, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 18 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on April 28, 2002.
Severe weather in Dorchester County since 1996
Dorchester County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3634: Severe Winter Storm |
| February 4, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4583: Tropical Storm Isaias |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4491: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3430: Covid-19 |
| November 20, 2012 | Hurricane | DR-4091: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Dorchester County
Dorchester County had 11,903 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,568 a year. Unemployment was 2.3% in 2023; in Cambridge itself the ACS puts it at 8.7%.
Public schools in Cambridge
7 public schools with 2,446 students, about 11.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cambridge-South Dorchester High School | 9-12 | 789 | 16.4 |
| Mace's Lane Middle School | 6-8 | 465 | 10.8 |
| Maple Elementary School | PK-5 | 447 | 13.1 |
| Sandy Hill Elementary | PK-5 | 397 | 11.0 |
| Choptank Elementary School | PK-5 | 348 | 12.4 |
| Judith P. Hoyer Early Childhood Center | PK-PK | — | — |
| Dorchester County Career and Technology Center | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Cambridge
- Algonquin, MD2.6 mi · 1,220 people · home $342,600
- Trappe, MD7.7 mi · 1,177 people · home $242,600
- Oxford, MD10.4 mi · 611 people · home $791,700
- Hurlock, MD12.4 mi · 2,070 people · home $202,700
- Preston, MD14.1 mi · 673 people · home $267,000
- Easton, MD15.4 mi · 17,101 people · home $358,900
- Tilghman Island, MD17.4 mi · 807 people · home $299,400
- St. Michaels, MD18.0 mi · 1,049 people · home $565,600
Cambridge questions
Is Cambridge, Maryland a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Cambridge scores better for retirees than 25% of Maryland towns and quieter than 22%. 21.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.4).
How much does a house cost in Cambridge?
The median owner-occupied home in Cambridge is valued at $257,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $47,323, so homes cost about 5.4 times income. Median rent is $1,058 a month.
What is the weather like in Cambridge?
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 29.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.6 inches of precipitation a year and 14.1 inches of snow.
Does Cambridge get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cambridge since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on July 28, 2026. The typical Maryland town has had 18.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)