Best places to live in Massachusetts
CityLedger tracks 5 Massachusetts metros, led by Boston. Cost of living runs from about 96 to 108 against a U.S. average of 100. Every figure below is computed from public U.S. government data and links to a full profile.
CityLedger tracks 5 metros in Massachusetts, the largest being the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metro Area (around 5,025,517 people). Across the state, median household income runs from $71,402 in Springfield to $117,825 in Boston, and typical rent from $1,158 a month in Springfield upward — a reminder that "Massachusetts" is really several different housing and job markets, not one.
Springfield has the lowest overall price level in the state (about 96 versus a U.S. average of 100), but the cheapest metro isn't always where money goes furthest. Adjusting income for local prices, Boston delivers the best real buying power — a cost-adjusted median of about $108,829.
Taxes shift the picture in ways a cost-of-living index alone misses: Massachusetts levies a state income tax, so take-home pay is lower here than in no-income-tax states at the same salary, and combined state and local sales tax averages about 6.3% (Tax Foundation). Our salary calculator folds federal, FICA, and Massachusetts state tax into a single take-home figure for any metro here.
Boston earns the state's highest CityLedger livability score, 83/100; Barnstable Town is the fastest-growing, up 9.2% over the latest population estimate; Worcester carries the lowest natural-hazard loss rate, about $9 per $10,000 of property (FEMA). Open any metro below for the full, sourced breakdown behind these figures.
| Metro | Livability | Cost of living | Median income | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston, MA | 83 | 108 | $117,825 | $2,093/mo |
| Barnstable Town, MA | 70 | 98 | $87,925 | $1,577/mo |
| Worcester, MA | 64 | 103 | $96,602 | $1,563/mo |
| Amherst Town, MA | 62 | 100 | $81,732 | $1,425/mo |
| Springfield, MA | 44 | 96 | $71,402 | $1,158/mo |
Browse every metro on the cities index or the rankings.
Living in Massachusetts — frequently asked
- What is the most affordable metro in Massachusetts?
- By overall price level, Springfield is the most affordable metro in Massachusetts, at about 96 against a U.S. average of 100 (BEA Regional Price Parities). Affordability also depends on local pay — see where a paycheck stretches furthest below.
- Where does a paycheck go furthest in Massachusetts?
- Boston has the highest cost-adjusted income in Massachusetts — a median of about $108,829 once local prices are factored in, meaning typical pay buys the most there.
- Does Massachusetts have a state income tax?
- Yes. Massachusetts levies a state income tax, which lowers take-home pay relative to no-income-tax states; combined state and local sales tax also averages about 6.3%. Our salary calculator estimates the exact take-home for each metro.
- Which Massachusetts metro has the highest livability score?
- Boston, at 83/100 on CityLedger's livability score — a transparent blend of affordability, jobs, income, education, and commute, all from public data.