Boston, Massachusetts has an overall cost of living index of 110.4, which is 10.4 points above the US average of 100 — making it pricier than most American cities. Renters pay a median of $2,147 per month, while the typical home is valued around $731,700. Households earn a median of $97,344 per year, leaving rent at a manageable share of income for many residents. Air quality is good, with an average AQI of 31. Below: housing costs, local wages by occupation, neighborhoods, climate, jobs and major industries, and healthcare access — all drawn from US Census, BEA, BLS, HUD, EPA, and NOAA data.
$97,344
Median Income / yr
Census ACS
$2,147
Median Rent / mo
Census ACS
$731,700
Median Home Value
Census ACS
110.4
Cost of Living Index
1BR Fair Market Rent
N/A
HUD · FY2024
2BR Fair Market Rent
N/A
HUD · FY2024
3BR Fair Market Rent
N/A
HUD · FY2024
Fair Market Rent is the 40th percentile of gross rents in the metro area · HUD FY2024
Each category indexed to the US average of 100. Below 100 = cheaper than average.
Overall
110.4
Goods
100.8
Rents / Housing
148.2
Services
172.2
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro-level)
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Software Developer | $154,840 |
| Registered Nurse | $115,710 |
| Elementary Teacher | $85,910 |
| Electrician | $83,410 |
| Accountant | $103,570 |
| Plumber | $89,040 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $217,910 |
| Civil Engineer | $116,860 |
| Operations Manager | $163,750 |
| Market Research Analyst | $100,900 |
| Health Services Manager | $165,730 |
| Truck Driver | $60,540 |
| Physician Assistant | N/A |
| Surgeon | N/A |
| Data Scientist | N/A |
| Computer Engineer | $175,380 |
Source: BLS OEWS 2023 (metro-level data)
Population
666,442
Latest estimate
Median Age
33.3 yrs
Census ACS
31.0
Good0 = clean · 50 = moderate boundary · lower is better
Source: EPA AirNow
Total Neighborhoods
35
Tracked in our database
Avg Walk Score
N/A
0–100 scale
Avg Median Rent
$2,199
Per month
Avg Home Value
$859,107
Census ACS
| Neighborhood | Walk Score | Median Rent | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZIP 02108 | — | $2,545 | $1,673,800 |
| ZIP 02109 | — | $3,154 | $1,010,200 |
| ZIP 02110 | — | $2,939 | $1,162,200 |
| ZIP 02111 | — | $1,873 | $951,800 |
| ZIP 02113 | — | $2,316 | $683,300 |
| ZIP 02114 | — | $2,698 | $938,600 |
| ZIP 02115 | — | $1,992 | $1,000,000 |
| ZIP 02116 | — | $2,255 | $1,461,100 |
| ZIP 02118 | — | $1,485 | $1,002,700 |
| ZIP 02119 | — | $1,182 | $603,900 |
Showing top 10 of 35 tracked neighborhoods.
January Avg
30°F
July Avg
74°F
Sunny Days / Year
—
Annual Snowfall
—
Climate category: Continental · Source: NOAA/NCEI 30-year normals.
Healthcare Score
32.4
poor
Hospitals
12
Doctors per 1,000
1.00
Insurance Coverage
97.1%
Boston has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 110.4. The US national average is 100, so Boston is 10.4 points above the national average.
The median gross rent in Boston is $2,147 per month according to US Census ACS data.
The median household income in Boston is $97,344 per year.
The median home value in Boston is $731,700 based on the latest Census ACS survey.
Boston has an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 31.0, which is rated "Good" by the EPA. Lower AQI values indicate cleaner air.
Tax data for Massachusetts is not yet available.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
