MA100 Cities • 2026 Data

Cost of Living in Massachusetts

Explore cost of living data for 100 cities in Massachusetts. Compare housing, rent, groceries, healthcare, and utility costs with detailed city-by-city breakdowns.

Cost Index
108.3
Above Average
Avg Rent
$2,705
/month
State Tax
5%
income tax
Avg Income
$97,344
/year
Cities
100
tracked

All Cities in Massachusetts(100 of 100)

Abington

+30%
Rent$2,475 / month
Home Price$824,560
Housing
+54%
Groceries
+3%
View Details

Adams

+10%
Rent$1,805 / month
Home Price$601,427
Housing
+13%
Groceries
+8%
View Details

Arlington

+49%
Rent$3,590 / month
Home Price$1,196,054
Housing
+124%
Groceries
+4%
View Details

Athol

+17%
Rent$1,912 / month
Home Price$637,214
Housing
+19%
Groceries
-0%
View Details

Ayer

+19%
Rent$1,937 / month
Home Price$645,494
Housing
+21%
Groceries
+4%
View Details

Baldwinville

+17%
Rent$1,912 / month
Home Price$637,214
Housing
+19%
Groceries
-0%
View Details

Barre

+17%
Rent$1,912 / month
Home Price$637,214
Housing
+19%
Groceries
-0%
View Details

Bellingham

+32%
Rent$2,319 / month
Home Price$772,575
Housing
+45%
Groceries
+3%
View Details

Belmont

+67%
Rent$4,600 / month
Home Price$1,532,778
Housing
+187%
Groceries
+4%
View Details

Boston

+48%
Rent$3,546 / month
Home Price$1,181,489
Housing
+121%
Groceries
+3%
View Details

Bridgewater

+31%
Rent$2,366 / month
Home Price$788,259
Housing
+48%
Groceries
+3%
View Details

Brockton

+21%
Rent$1,940 / month
Home Price$646,397
Housing
+21%
Groceries
+3%
View Details

Brookfield

+17%
Rent$1,912 / month
Home Price$637,214
Housing
+19%
Groceries
-0%
View Details

Brookline

+79%
Rent$5,452 / month
Home Price$1,816,485
Housing
+240%
Groceries
+3%
View Details

Burlington

+45%
Rent$3,139 / month
Home Price$1,045,769
Housing
+96%
Groceries
+4%
View Details

Cambridge

+69%
Rent$4,592 / month
Home Price$1,530,024
Housing
+186%
Groceries
+4%
View Details

Chelsea

+29%
Rent$2,330 / month
Home Price$776,461
Housing
+45%
Groceries
+3%
View Details

Clinton

+17%
Rent$1,912 / month
Home Price$637,214
Housing
+19%
Groceries
-0%
View Details

Dedham

+44%
Rent$3,169 / month
Home Price$1,056,079
Housing
+98%
Groceries
+3%
View Details

Dover

+110%
Rent$6,844 / month
Home Price$2,280,584
Housing
+327%
Groceries
+3%
View Details

Duxbury

+106%
Rent$7,016 / month
Home Price$2,337,888
Housing
+338%
Groceries
+3%
View Details

East Brookfield

+17%
Rent$1,912 / month
Home Price$637,214
Housing
+19%
Groceries
-0%
View Details

Everett

+29%
Rent$2,352 / month
Home Price$783,824
Housing
+47%
Groceries
+4%
View Details

Fiskdale

+17%
Rent$1,912 / month
Home Price$637,214
Housing
+19%
Groceries
-0%
View Details

Fitchburg

+17%
Rent$1,912 / month
Home Price$637,214
Housing
+19%
Groceries
-0%
View Details

Framingham

+36%
Rent$2,701 / month
Home Price$900,004
Housing
+69%
Groceries
+4%
View Details

Gardner

+17%
Rent$1,912 / month
Home Price$637,214
Housing
+19%
Groceries
-0%
View Details

Great Barrington

+10%
Rent$1,805 / month
Home Price$601,427
Housing
+13%
Groceries
+8%
View Details

Groton

+24%
Rent$2,407 / month
Home Price$802,111
Housing
+50%
Groceries
+4%
View Details

Hanscom AFB

+25%
Rent$1,109 / month
Home Price$369,488
Housing
-31%
Groceries
+4%
View Details

Hanson

+38%
Rent$2,828 / month
Home Price$942,368
Housing
+76%
Groceries
+3%
View Details

Hingham

+65%
Rent$5,127 / month
Home Price$1,708,471
Housing
+220%
Groceries
+3%
View Details

Holbrook

+25%
Rent$2,215 / month
Home Price$738,197
Housing
+38%
Groceries
+3%
View Details

Hopedale

+17%
Rent$1,912 / month
Home Price$637,214
Housing
+19%
Groceries
-0%
View Details

Housatonic

+10%
Rent$1,805 / month
Home Price$601,427
Housing
+13%
Groceries
+8%
View Details

Hudson

+23%
Rent$2,082 / month
Home Price$693,770
Housing
+30%
Groceries
+4%
View Details

Hull

+36%
Rent$2,798 / month
Home Price$932,309
Housing
+75%
Groceries
+3%
View Details

Kingston

+36%
Rent$2,665 / month
Home Price$887,864
Housing
+66%
Groceries
+3%
View Details

Lee

+10%
Rent$1,805 / month
Home Price$601,427
Housing
+13%
Groceries
+8%
View Details

Lenox

+10%
Rent$1,805 / month
Home Price$601,427
Housing
+13%
Groceries
+8%
View Details

Leominster

+17%
Rent$1,912 / month
Home Price$637,214
Housing
+19%
Groceries
-0%
View Details

Lexington

+71%
Rent$4,907 / month
Home Price$1,635,131
Housing
+206%
Groceries
+4%
View Details

Lowell

+19%
Rent$1,855 / month
Home Price$618,110
Housing
+16%
Groceries
+4%
View Details

Lunenburg

+17%
Rent$1,912 / month
Home Price$637,214
Housing
+19%
Groceries
-0%
View Details

Malden

+31%
Rent$2,446 / month
Home Price$815,046
Housing
+53%
Groceries
+4%
View Details

Marlborough

+26%
Rent$2,227 / month
Home Price$741,972
Housing
+39%
Groceries
+4%
View Details

Marshfield

+32%
Rent$2,752 / month
Home Price$917,126
Housing
+72%
Groceries
+3%
View Details

Marshfield Hills

+60%
Rent$4,325 / month
Home Price$1,441,059
Housing
+170%
Groceries
+3%
View Details

Maynard

+27%
Rent$2,372 / month
Home Price$790,278
Housing
+48%
Groceries
+4%
View Details

Medfield

+44%
Rent$3,586 / month
Home Price$1,194,890
Housing
+124%
Groceries
+3%
View Details

Medford

+40%
Rent$2,930 / month
Home Price$976,387
Housing
+83%
Groceries
+4%
View Details

Melrose

+36%
Rent$2,946 / month
Home Price$981,678
Housing
+84%
Groceries
+4%
View Details

Milford

+17%
Rent$1,912 / month
Home Price$637,214
Housing
+19%
Groceries
-0%
View Details

Milton

+50%
Rent$3,750 / month
Home Price$1,249,352
Housing
+134%
Groceries
+3%
View Details

Natick

+36%
Rent$2,701 / month
Home Price$900,004
Housing
+69%
Groceries
+4%
View Details

Needham

+68%
Rent$4,936 / month
Home Price$1,644,754
Housing
+208%
Groceries
+3%
View Details

Newton

+79%
Rent$5,379 / month
Home Price$1,792,329
Housing
+236%
Groceries
+4%
View Details

North Adams

+10%
Rent$1,805 / month
Home Price$601,427
Housing
+13%
Groceries
+8%
View Details

North Brookfield

+17%
Rent$1,912 / month
Home Price$637,214
Housing
+19%
Groceries
-0%
View Details

North Pembroke

+45%
Rent$3,132 / month
Home Price$1,043,580
Housing
+95%
Groceries
+3%
View Details

North Scituate

+46%
Rent$3,746 / month
Home Price$1,248,196
Housing
+134%
Groceries
+3%
View Details

Northborough

+17%
Rent$1,912 / month
Home Price$637,214
Housing
+19%
Groceries
-0%
View Details

Norwood

+40%
Rent$3,043 / month
Home Price$1,014,039
Housing
+90%
Groceries
+3%
View Details

Onset

+24%
Rent$2,129 / month
Home Price$709,256
Housing
+33%
Groceries
+3%
View Details

Oxford

+17%
Rent$1,912 / month
Home Price$637,214
Housing
+19%
Groceries
-0%
View Details

Pepperell

+22%
Rent$2,031 / month
Home Price$676,863
Housing
+27%
Groceries
+4%
View Details

Petersham

+17%
Rent$1,912 / month
Home Price$637,214
Housing
+19%
Groceries
-0%
View Details

Pinehurst

+39%
Rent$2,742 / month
Home Price$913,689
Housing
+71%
Groceries
+4%
View Details

Pittsfield

+10%
Rent$1,805 / month
Home Price$601,427
Housing
+13%
Groceries
+8%
View Details

Plymouth

+31%
Rent$2,459 / month
Home Price$819,496
Housing
+53%
Groceries
+3%
View Details

Quincy

+41%
Rent$3,083 / month
Home Price$1,027,322
Housing
+92%
Groceries
+3%
View Details

Randolph

+32%
Rent$2,380 / month
Home Price$792,876
Housing
+48%
Groceries
+3%
View Details

Reading

+41%
Rent$3,145 / month
Home Price$1,048,077
Housing
+96%
Groceries
+4%
View Details

Revere

+33%
Rent$2,575 / month
Home Price$857,946
Housing
+61%
Groceries
+3%
View Details

Rutland

+17%
Rent$1,912 / month
Home Price$637,214
Housing
+19%
Groceries
-0%
View Details

Scituate

+40%
Rent$3,362 / month
Home Price$1,120,305
Housing
+110%
Groceries
+3%
View Details

Sharon

+48%
Rent$3,302 / month
Home Price$1,100,324
Housing
+106%
Groceries
+3%
View Details

Shirley

+14%
Rent$1,761 / month
Home Price$586,642
Housing
+10%
Groceries
+4%
View Details

Somerville

+57%
Rent$3,898 / month
Home Price$1,298,783
Housing
+143%
Groceries
+4%
View Details

South Lancaster

+17%
Rent$1,912 / month
Home Price$637,214
Housing
+19%
Groceries
-0%
View Details

Spencer

+17%
Rent$1,912 / month
Home Price$637,214
Housing
+19%
Groceries
-0%
View Details

Stoneham

+36%
Rent$2,828 / month
Home Price$942,401
Housing
+76%
Groceries
+4%
View Details

Sturbridge

+17%
Rent$1,912 / month
Home Price$637,214
Housing
+19%
Groceries
-0%
View Details

Townsend

+11%
Rent$1,588 / month
Home Price$529,280
Housing
-1%
Groceries
+4%
View Details

Upton

+17%
Rent$1,912 / month
Home Price$637,214
Housing
+19%
Groceries
-0%
View Details

Walpole

+35%
Rent$2,862 / month
Home Price$953,722
Housing
+79%
Groceries
+3%
View Details

Waltham

+39%
Rent$2,982 / month
Home Price$993,477
Housing
+86%
Groceries
+4%
View Details

Warren

+17%
Rent$1,912 / month
Home Price$637,214
Housing
+19%
Groceries
-0%
View Details

Webster

+17%
Rent$1,912 / month
Home Price$637,214
Housing
+19%
Groceries
-0%
View Details

Wellesley

+96%
Rent$6,702 / month
Home Price$2,233,130
Housing
+318%
Groceries
+3%
View Details

West Brookfield

+17%
Rent$1,912 / month
Home Price$637,214
Housing
+19%
Groceries
-0%
View Details

West Wareham

+22%
Rent$1,689 / month
Home Price$562,880
Housing
+5%
Groceries
+3%
View Details

Westborough

+17%
Rent$1,912 / month
Home Price$637,214
Housing
+19%
Groceries
-0%
View Details

Whitinsville

+17%
Rent$1,912 / month
Home Price$637,214
Housing
+19%
Groceries
-0%
View Details

Williamstown

+10%
Rent$1,805 / month
Home Price$601,427
Housing
+13%
Groceries
+8%
View Details

Wilmington

+41%
Rent$2,875 / month
Home Price$957,976
Housing
+79%
Groceries
+4%
View Details

Winchendon

+17%
Rent$1,912 / month
Home Price$637,214
Housing
+19%
Groceries
-0%
View Details

Winchester

+69%
Rent$4,858 / month
Home Price$1,618,830
Housing
+203%
Groceries
+4%
View Details

Woburn

+34%
Rent$2,666 / month
Home Price$888,190
Housing
+66%
Groceries
+4%
View Details

Worcester

+18%
Rent$1,954 / month
Home Price$650,976
Housing
+22%
Groceries
-0%
View Details

Living in Massachusetts: What to Know

Massachusetts has a cost of living index of 108.3, meaning overall expenses are 8.3% higher the national average. With 100 cities tracked in our database, the state offers a wide range of living situations from very affordable small towns to pricier metropolitan areas.

Housing is typically the largest expense category. Average rent in Massachusetts is approximately $2,705 per month, with significant variation between urban centers and rural communities. Median home values average around $901,291 statewide.

The state income tax rate in Massachusetts is 5%, which directly affects take-home pay. Factor this into salary comparisons when considering a move from states with different tax rates.

Massachusetts Cost of Living FAQ

Common questions about living costs in Massachusetts.

Massachusetts has a cost of living index of 108.3 compared to the national average of 100. This means Massachusetts is 8.3% more expensive than the national average. The state has 100 cities tracked in our database with varying costs across urban and rural areas.
The average monthly rent in Massachusetts is approximately $2,705 per month. Rent varies significantly by city — major metropolitan areas tend to have rents 30-60% higher than rural communities within the state. Our city-by-city breakdown below provides median rent, median home prices, and utility costs for every tracked city.
Massachusetts has a state income tax rate of approximately 5%. This affects take-home pay significantly — on a $100,000 salary, you'd pay roughly $5,000 in state income taxes.
The most affordable cities in Massachusetts include Adams (+10% vs national average), Great Barrington (+10% vs national average), Housatonic (+10% vs national average). These cities offer significantly lower housing, grocery, and healthcare costs compared to national averages. Explore each city page for detailed expense breakdowns.
Massachusetts offers above average cost of living with 100 cities to choose from. Key factors to consider include housing costs (average rent ~$2,705/mo), job market, climate, and quality of life. Browse individual city pages below for specific cost breakdowns to help you decide.