Somerville overtakes Cambridge...

Colleges and Universities A-Z Tufts University
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<p>Tufts sits on the Medford/Somerville line. The "downhill" portion is in Somerville.</p>

<p>For all those who have not been to Somerville recently....</p>

<p>"The 2010 Census found that the city has the second-highest proportion of residents between the ages of 25 and 34 in the United States. That places Somerville right after Hoboken “but ahead of Cambridge,” said Daniel Hadley, director of SomerStat, the mayor’s data analysis team. </p>

<p>Take that, Cambridge."</p>

<p>"At 4.2 square miles, Somerville is smaller than Cambridge’s 6.3. Its official population is 77,000, although it’s probably higher, Hadley said. In 2010, the estimated median household income was $61,241, up from $46,315 in 2000. Almost 26 percent of the residents have a bachelor’s degree, 20 percent have a master’s, and 6.3 percent have a doctorate, according to 2011 figures, all well above the statewide averages."</p>

<p>"Hadley, the director of SomerStat, says the changes in Somerville actually started in the town next door. “To me, the story really starts in back when rent control was abolished in Cambridge, in 1995,” he said. “That’s when you suddenly see a lot of people fleeing Cambridge and coming over the border.”"</p>

<p>Some</a> in Somerville worry it?s become too hip for its own good - Style - The Boston Globe</p>

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<p>All you have to do is compare Davis Square today with the Davis Square of even 15 years ago! For Tufts students it is a great thing. I wish there were a Diesel Cafe back when I was on campus ;)</p>

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<p>What about Medford?</p>

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<p>Catria-</p>

<p>Here is an article on the history of West Medford, that provides insights into how Medford has evolved over the years. From my vantage point (over the last 30-35 years), the “Hillside area” (which borders Tufts on the Medford side) does not seem to have changed nearly as much as the Somerville side. </p>

<p>In my day, my social/entertainment life centered around on campus activities, the Hillside area, a couple of places on the Somerville side (Steve’s and Joey’s ice cream), Harvard Square and Boston. Note that there was no student center back then. </p>

<p>These days, the Somerville side (mostly Davis and Ball Square) seems to be the center of social/entertainment life at Tufts, surpassing both the Hillside area and Harvard Square. </p>

<p>One exception would be the Danish Pastry House, which is a real nice addition to the Hillside area. Medford Center has also improved, but unless one lives in an off campus apartment near there, the higher density of young people and interesting places on the Somerville side (along with a shuttle bus to Davis Square) tends to prevent students from exploring Medford. </p>

<p>Note that the city of Somerville ranks about 15th in the country in terms of population density -exceeded only by sections of NY city, LA and Miami. Cambridge ranks around 30th and Boston around 50th. Medford does not rank within the top 125. </p>

<p>I believe that rent in pockets of Medford near campus are now lower than Somerville, but that is not based on much data. </p>

<p>It will be interesting to see what happens to the Cambridge/Somerville/Medford dynamic when the Green Line (Subway) is extended to Tufts/Medford in a few years. It is an interesting time for real estate speculation around that area.</p>

<p>[In</a> West Medford, a historically black community at a crossroads - Magazine - The Boston Globe](<a href=“Change on the Mystic - The Boston Globe”>Change on the Mystic - The Boston Globe)</p>

<p>[List</a> of United States cities by population density - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_cities_by_population_density]List”>List of United States cities by population density - Wikipedia)</p>