Philbin agrees, and says students will crowd into one tiny apartment, often sleeping in kitchens and dining rooms.

"Landlords are squeezing kids into small apartments because they know they can get a lot of money," Philbin says.

"They have four or five people living in one small apartment at 500 to 800 bucks a whack," he continues.

In an already crowded market, overflowing student populations are a main cause of concern.

There is an across-the-board increase in demand, says John Howard, president of the Porter Square Neighborhood Association.

"A lot more people now want to live in Cambridge," he says. "The general consensus is sort of that the yuppies are driving prices up. The yuppies are considered this evil group that will pay more for housing."

If yuppies are faulted, students are even more so.

"It's because of unlimited demand that we are in this situation," Cavellini says. "It's the professional people and the students. Demand is high for all ranges of housing."