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Property investment stats for Cambridge (Cambridge), East of England

A complete guide to property investment in Cambridge.

Last updated: 18 September 2025

Investment summary

Cambridge stands out for its highly educated and professional population, with a strikingly high share of degree holders and professionals compared to most of Britain. The city is also home to a large student base and a notably youthful demographic, especially in the 20-40 age bracket. Properties in Cambridge tend to attract strong rental demand, underpinned by a high private rented sector presence and a large number of single and couple households. The market is liquid, with properties typically spending just 55 days on the market and a median discount of £0 (the typical achieved discount), suggesting sellers are achieving or even exceeding their asking prices.

Image of Cambridge (Cambridge), East of England

Key investment stats for Cambridge

Median price per sq ft

£536 / sq ft

Average rental yield

4.9%

Capital growth (1y)

-2.2%

Sales in past year

1,304

* Property stats calculated for last full calendar year (2024).

Live property stats in Cambridge

Live prices in Cambridge (Cambridge), East of England

* Extreme prices clipped for legibility

Properties for sale

Median price

£480,000

25% of properties below...

£350,000

75% of properties below...

£650,000

Most expensive property

£5,750,000

Live listings

935

Median days on market

55

Should you invest in Cambridge?

Opportunities

  • The private rental market is robust, with a high proportion of renters and strong rental yields of 4.9%, particularly in the top-performing district of CB4 at 5.3%.
  • The youthful, professional population and large student base create steady demand for both rental properties and smaller flats, as seen in the high rent-to-income ratio of 27.4%.
  • Properties are selling quickly, with a median time on the market of 55 days and no median discount, indicating strong buyer competition.

Risks

  • Capital growth over the past year has changed by -2.2%, which may concern investors seeking short-term appreciation.
  • The price-to-income ratio of 7.2 suggests affordability is stretched for local buyers, potentially limiting owner-occupier demand.
  • The market is dominated by renters and students, so shifts in these populations could impact both rental demand and pricing.

Outlook

Looking ahead, Cambridge's property market is likely to remain attractive for investors focused on rental income, given the strong private rented sector and high demand from students and professionals. The annualised growth over the past three years sits at 2.6%, providing some reassurance for those with a longer-term perspective, even though the most recent year saw capital values change by -2.2%.

Affordability will remain a challenge for many, with the price-to-income ratio at 7.2 and rents at 27.4% of local incomes. However, the market's liquidity and the absence of median discounts suggest that demand is not softening. While families are underrepresented, the dominance of younger renters and professionals is unlikely to change soon, keeping Cambridge firmly on the radar for investors who prioritise steady rental returns over immediate capital growth.

Live properties in Cambridge

Investment properties in Cambridge (Cambridge), East of England

House for sale
52% below median price

£600,000

House for sale

32 & 32B Ramsden Square, Cambridge,...

Properties needing refurbishment in Cambridge (Cambridge), East of England
Needs Refurb
2 bedroom apartment for sale
19% below median price

£280,000

2 bedroom apartment for sale

Chieftain Way, Cambridge

Priced to sell properties in Cambridge (Cambridge), East of England
Priced to Sell
1 bedroom flat for sale
On market for 174 days

£200,000 - Guide Price

1 bedroom flat for sale

Ditton Lane, Cambridge

Slow to sell properties in Cambridge (Cambridge), East of England
Slow to Sell
1 bedroom apartment for sale
Reduced by 17%

£100,000

1 bedroom apartment for sale

Haig Court, Chesterton

Big price drop properties in Cambridge (Cambridge), East of England
Big Price Drop
6 bedroom terraced house for sale
High yield opportunity

£425,000 - Guide Price

6 bedroom terraced house for sale

Apthorpe Way, Cambridge

HMO properties in Cambridge (Cambridge), East of England
HMO
4 bedroom detached house for sale
2,640 sq ft

£1,685,000 - Guide Price

4 bedroom detached house for sale

Grantchester Road, Trumpington, Cam...

Properties with planning granted in Cambridge (Cambridge), East of England
Planning Granted
1 bedroom apartment for sale
69% below median price

£75,000

1 bedroom apartment for sale

Brooklyn Court, Cambridge

Low price-per-sq-ft properties in Cambridge (Cambridge), East of England
Low Price per Sq Ft
1 bedroom flat for sale
72% below median price

£60,000 - Guide Price

1 bedroom flat for sale

Arbury Road, Cambridge, Cambridgesh...

Auction properties in Cambridge (Cambridge), East of England
Auction

Achieved vs asking prices

Key takeaway: Seller's market

Asking and achieved prices are broadly aligned — little negotiation room on average.

Headline stats

• Median discount: £0

• 1 in 4 properties sell at > £10,000 below asking

• 1 in 10 properties sell at > £24,250 below asking

In percentage terms:

• Median discount of 0.0%

• 25% of properties discounted by > 2.0%

• 10% of properties discounted by > 3.9%

Best places to invest in Cambridge

Top postcodes for rental yield and (annualised) capital growth

Rank
Postcode
Yield
Capital growth
Median £/sq ft
1CB45.3%2.9%£498 / sq ft
2CB25.3%2.0%£523 / sq ft
3CB55.3%3.8%£510 / sq ft
4CB14.5%2.5%£569 / sq ft
5CB33.4%2.6%£536 / sq ft

Data sources

GeoGlider calculates property investment stats by blending official and proprietary datasets. Here's a quick overview of key sources and how we use them:

  • HM Land Registry: Property transaction and sold-price records for England & Wales used to calculate historical capital growth, price levels and comparables.

  • Office for National Statistics (ONS): Demographic and economic indicators for the UK, including Census 2021, supporting area profiling and market context.

  • Ordnance Survey: Authoritative UK geospatial data powering accurate boundaries, roads and terrain for mapping and spatial analysis.

  • GeoProp: Our proprietary AI pipeline that processes millions of property listings to extract rich features and live market signals.

  • Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities: Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) scores and property floor areas.

  • HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC): Household income and employment data to understand local affordability and economic conditions.

Data is updated continuously, matched across sources and rigorously validated.