Cambridge: should you rent, buy, invest or live here?
The most useful local property guide in Cambridgeshire — DR Rent Area Scores, rental & investment insight, schools, dining, things to do, commuting, developments and live homes across CB1, CB2, CB4.
Cambridge DR Rent Area Score™
One score that combines rental demand, investment, family life, commuting, lifestyle and food.
Renting in Cambridge
The Cambridge rental market in Cambridgeshire is active and competitive, with average rents around £1,625 pcm and rents up roughly 5.2% over the past year. Strong commuter links and local employment keep demand from tenants consistently ahead of available supply across CB1, CB2, CB4.
Rental competition
How hard tenants compete for each property type in Cambridge.
- StudioMedium
- 1 bedVery high
- 2 bedHigh
- 3 bedMedium
- Family homesVery high
Average time to let
17 days
Tenant demand
Moderate
Best for
Who tends to rent well in Cambridge.
- Professionals
- Families
- Commuters
- Couples
- First-time renters
| Property type | Average rent (pcm) | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Room / HMO | £665 | £7,980 |
| 1-bed flat | £1,266 | £15,192 |
| 2-bed flat | £1,583 | £18,996 |
| 3-bed house | £2,026 | £24,312 |
| 4-bed house | £2,612 | £31,344 |
Featured properties in Cambridge
Premium and featured homes listed by landlords on DR Rent across CB1, CB2, CB4.
Buying in Cambridge
What buyers and first-time buyers can expect from the local sales market.
Average price
£515,000
Price growth (1yr)
+3.9%
Buyer demand
Low
Supply
Medium
First-time buyer suitability
Challenging — higher entry prices
Buying snapshot
Buyers in Cambridge face low competition with prices around £515,000 and growth of about 3.9% over the last year. Challenging — higher entry prices.
Investing in Cambridge
With an average property price near £515,000 and gross yields around 5.7%, Cambridge offers landlords a balance of capital growth and rental income. Prices have moved about 3.9% in the last year, and moderate tenant demand helps keep void periods short.
Landlord opportunity score
8.3/10What tenants are looking for
Live DR Rent demand signal for Cambridge — nobody else has this.
- 1Family homes near schools
- 2Pet-friendly rentals
- 3Garden flats
- 43 bed houses
Family living & schools in Cambridge
Schools, Ofsted ratings and family facilities that drive long-term family lettings.
| School | Type | Ofsted | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cambridge Primary School | Primary | Outstanding | 1.4 mi |
| St Mary's C of E Primary, Cambridge | Primary | Outstanding | 2.6 mi |
| Cambridge Junior Academy | Primary | Good | 0.8 mi |
| Cambridge Grammar School | Secondary | Outstanding | 1.1 mi |
| Cambridge Community College | Secondary | Good | 0.4 mi |
| The Cambridge Academy | Secondary | Outstanding | 2.1 mi |
Family facilities
- Cambridge Leisure Centre & swimming pool
- Local parks and playgrounds
- Public library
- Soft play and family cafés
- NHS GP surgeries and pharmacies
- Weekend markets and community events
Eating out in Cambridge
Popular restaurants, takeaways and coffee shops with ratings and distance.
The Cambridge Brasserie
2.1 mi from Cambridge centre
Spice of Cambridge
0.6 mi from Cambridge centre
Bella Cucina
0.4 mi from Cambridge centre
The Garden Kitchen
1.6 mi from Cambridge centre
Cambridge Tandoori
1.7 mi from Cambridge centre
Coffee & Co, Cambridge
0.6 mi from Cambridge centre
Socialising in Cambridge
Pubs, bars, nightlife, entertainment and shopping.
The Crown, Cambridge
0.8 mi from Cambridge centre
The Railway Tavern
1.7 mi from Cambridge centre
Vault Bar
1.3 mi from Cambridge centre
Cambridge Live Lounge
1 mi from Cambridge centre
The Riverside Inn
0.9 mi from Cambridge centre
Cambridge Shopping Centre
0.9 mi from Cambridge centre
Things to do in Cambridge
Gyms, sports clubs, cinemas, golf, walking routes and family attractions.
Cambridge Sports & Fitness
1.6 mi from Cambridge centre
Cambridge Cricket Club
0.5 mi from Cambridge centre
Parkland Golf Club
0.3 mi from Cambridge centre
Cambridge Cinema
2.2 mi from Cambridge centre
Riverside Walking Route
1.9 mi from Cambridge centre
Cambridge Adventure Park
1.4 mi from Cambridge centre
Commuting from Cambridge
London, Heathrow, Reading and motorway connections with typical travel times.
| Destination | Mode | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| London (central) | Train | 35 min |
| London Paddington | Elizabeth Line / GWR | 30 min |
| Reading | Train | 21 min |
| Heathrow Airport | Car / bus | 23 min |
| M4 motorway | Car | 16 min |
| M25 motorway | Car | 19 min |
Local developments in Cambridge
What's coming soon and how it could affect the local market.
Cambridge town centre regeneration
Under construction
New residential scheme near CB1
Approved
Cambridge retail & leisure quarter
Planning
New primary school provision
Proposed
Transport & station improvements
Funded
Local services in Cambridge
Verified contractors covering CB1, CB2, CB4 — connected to the DR Rent marketplace.
EPC Assessors in Cambridge
Accredited domestic energy assessors producing valid EPCs for rental properties.
View epc assessorsGas Engineers in Cambridge
Gas Safe registered engineers issuing annual landlord gas safety records.
View gas engineersElectricians in Cambridge
Registered electricians carrying out EICR inspections and remedial works.
View electriciansPlumbers in Cambridge
Reliable plumbers for repairs, leaks, heating and bathroom works.
View plumbersInventory Clerks in Cambridge
Independent inventory clerks producing detailed check-in and check-out reports.
View inventory clerksProperty Photographers in Cambridge
Professional property photographers and floorplans to let faster.
View property photographersRenting & compliance in Cambridge
The certificates and rules every local landlord must stay on top of.
EPC (Energy Performance Certificate)
Rentals in Cambridge must hold a valid EPC rated E or above before marketing.
Annual gas safety (CP12)
Every gas appliance must be checked yearly by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
EICR (electrical safety)
A satisfactory electrical report is required at least every five years.
Deposit protection
Deposits must be protected in a government scheme within 30 days.
Right to Rent
Tenant immigration status must be checked before a tenancy begins.
Renters' Rights Act
New rules are reshaping how landlords let property across Cambridgeshire.
More local data for Cambridge
Coming soon: schools, crime, transport, planning and investment forecasts.
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