Cost of living in Boston, MA
Livability score 48 · cost-of-living index 110.4 (US = 100)
How Boston compares
Where Boston falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).
Map of Boston
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Cost of living
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost-of-living index (US=100) | 110.4 | metro-area | #187 of 200 |
| Grocery index (US=100) | 100.8 | metro-area | #161 of 200 |
| Big Mac price (est.) | $6.28 | metro-area | #187 of 200 |
| Median household income | $107,117 | metro-area | #6 of 200 |
| Median wage (all occupations) | $56,419 | metro-area | #5 of 200 |
Who lives here
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.3 years | metro-area | #120 of 200 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) | 51.2% | metro-area | #8 of 200 |
| Foreign-born residents | 19.7% | metro-area | #30 of 200 |
| Homes that are owner-occupied | 61.8% | metro-area | #159 of 200 |
Economy
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate | 5.02% | metro-area | #92 of 200 |
| Population growth (5-yr) | +2.9% | metro-area | #125 of 200 |
Housing — what your money buys
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $741,868 | metro-area | #188 of 200 |
| Home price ÷ income (affordability) | 6.9× | metro-area | #180 of 200 |
| 1-yr home appreciation | +1.6% | metro-area | #96 of 200 |
| Price per square foot | $436 | metro-area | #188 of 200 |
| Typical home size (implied) | 1,700 sqft | ||
| Median rent (monthly) | $3,211 | metro-area | #195 of 200 |
| Homes for sale (inventory) | 10,977 | ||
| Median days on market | 8 | metro-area | #29 of 200 |
Taxes
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total tax burden (est. % of income) | 11.5% | state | #148 of 200 |
| Combined sales tax | 6.25% | state | #29 of 200 |
| State income tax (top rate) | 9.00% | ||
| Capital gains tax | 9.00% | state | #160 of 200 |
| High earners | 4% surtax on income over ~$1M (the 'Fair Share'/millionaires tax) | ||
| Social Security in retirement | Not taxed — does not tax Social Security benefits | ||
| Effective property tax rate | 1.14% | metro-area | #125 of 200 |
| Median property tax paid | $6,506 | metro-area | #191 of 200 |
Health & childcare
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 80.5 years | metro-area | #15 of 200 |
| Healthcare (annual, single adult) | $8,200 | state | #193 of 200 |
| Uninsured (share of residents) | 2.9% | metro-area | #1 of 200 |
| Primary care providers per 100k | 109 | metro-area | #10 of 200 |
| Childcare (annual, infant, center) | $21,000 | state | #197 of 200 |
Vehicles & commute
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual registration | $60 | state | #19 of 200 |
| Vehicle property tax (annual) | 2.25% of value (~$630/yr) | state | #181 of 200 |
| Emissions testing | Required | ||
| Emissions detail | Required in major metro counties | ||
| DMV & license offices | 4 | ||
| Avg commute to work | 31 min | metro-area | #190 of 200 |
| Commute by driving alone | 58.9% | metro-area | #5 of 200 |
| Solo drivers commuting 30+ min | 46.8% | metro-area | #191 of 200 |
Utilities & fuel
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity | 29.4¢/kWh | state | #166 of 200 |
| Avg monthly electric bill | $265 | state | #166 of 200 |
| Gasoline | $3.30/gal | state | #94 of 200 |
| Natural gas (avg monthly bill) | $108 | state | #198 of 200 |
| Water & sewer (avg monthly bill) | $71 | state | #25 of 200 |
| Home internet (avg monthly bill) | $78 | state | #77 of 200 |
Insurance
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home insurance (annual) | $1,800 | state | #100 of 200 |
| Auto insurance (annual) | $1,500 | state | #41 of 200 |
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main natural hazards | Notable hazards: hurricanes, flooding — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed. | ||
| FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk) | 93.2 — Relatively Moderate | metro-area | #130 of 200 |
| Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) | $800 | state | #120 of 200 |
| Earthquake insurance (annual) | $100 | state | #1 of 200 |
Climate & air quality
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) | 43 | metro-area | #70 of 200 |
| Cooling degree-days (AC load) | 700 | metro-area | #25 of 200 |
| Homes with air conditioning (state) | 87% | state | #151 of 200 |
| Heating degree-days (heat load) | 5,600 | metro-area | #138 of 200 |
| Days per year ≥ 90°F | 10 | metro-area | #45 of 200 |
| Days per year ≥ 100°F | 0 | metro-area | #5 of 200 |
| Avg summer high (state) | 82°F | metro-area | #10 of 200 |
| Avg winter low | 22°F | metro-area | #130 of 200 |
| Annual precipitation | 43.6" | metro-area | #101 of 200 |
| Annual snowfall | 49.2" | metro-area | #175 of 200 |
| Sunshine (% of possible) | 58% | metro-area | #105 of 200 |
| Plant hardiness zone | 6b | ||
| Frost window | 04-20 → 10-20 |
Safety
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) | 330 | state | #43 of 200 |
| Property crime (per 100k, state avg) | 1,100 | state | #3 of 200 |
Local amenities & recreation
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grocery stores | 24 | metro-area | #150 of 200 |
| Parks | 77 | ||
| Hiking areas | 14 | ||
| Golf courses | 20 | ||
| Shooting ranges | 1 | ||
| Lakes | 4 |
Permits
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building permit difficulty (1–5) | 4 | state | #147 of 200 |
| Permit detail | Difficult; zoning + review |
US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.
Top employers in Boston
Major public and private employers in the Boston, MA area.
Find a job in Boston
Cities in the Boston area
Boston (665,945) →Cambridge (117,962) →Lowell (114,737) →Brockton (104,713) →Quincy (100,981) →Lynn (100,653) →Newton (88,453) →Lawrence (88,067) →Somerville (80,464) →Framingham (71,805) →Haverhill (67,273) →Malden (65,463) →Waltham (64,711) →Brookline (62,698) →Medford (61,748) →Revere (60,577) →Weymouth Town (57,300) →Peabody (54,204) →Methuen Town (52,812) →Everett (48,685) →Arlington (45,906) →Salem (44,541) →Beverly (42,414) →Marlborough (41,391) →Woburn (40,992) →Chelsea (39,890) →Braintree Town (38,748) →Watertown Town (35,181) →Randolph Town (34,691) →Lexington (34,221) →Dover (32,849) →Franklin Town (32,777) →Rochester (32,573) →Needham (31,957) →Norwood (31,343) →Wellesley (29,862) →Gloucester (29,830) →Melrose (29,477) →Saugus (28,566) →Bridgewater Town (28,531) →Milton (28,450) →Danvers (27,910) →Wakefield (27,054) →Belmont (26,997) →Burlington (26,169) →Reading (25,415) →Dedham (25,150) →Wilmington (23,191) →Derry (23,027) →Stoneham (22,992) →Winchester (22,809) →Portsmouth (22,138) →Marblehead (20,350) →Winthrop Town (19,031) →Newburyport (18,356) →Amesbury Town (17,279) →Abington (17,003) →Hudson (15,496) →Swampscott (15,125) →Lynnfield (12,925) →Londonderry (12,143) →Somersworth (11,994) →Holbrook (11,338) →Durham (10,789) →Maynard (10,671) →Hull (10,116) →Hampton (10,050) →
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