Cost of Living in Massachusetts
64 cities • 4,107,929 total population • 2026 Data
$106,070
Avg. Median Income
+37% vs national
$1,808
Avg. Median Rent
+34% vs national
$593,511
Avg. Home Value
+75% vs national
5.3%
Avg. Unemployment
Overview
Massachusetts has 64 cities with populations over 25,000, totaling 4,107,929 residents. The average median household income across these cities is $106,070, which is 37% above the national median.
Rent averages $1,808 per month, and the average home value is $593,511. The largest city is Boston, while Holyoke offers the lowest rent and Wellesley has the highest.
Most Affordable Cities in Massachusetts
| # | City | Median Rent | Median Income | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Holyoke | $1,016 | $51,892 | $255,300 |
| 2 | Westfield | $1,064 | $82,847 | $295,500 |
| 3 | New Bedford | $1,085 | $56,025 | $324,400 |
| 4 | Fall River | $1,086 | $53,933 | $357,800 |
| 5 | Pittsfield | $1,094 | $68,386 | $233,700 |
Most Expensive Cities in Massachusetts
| # | City | Median Rent | Median Income | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wellesley | $2,849 | $250,001 | $1,513,400 |
| 2 | Lexington | $2,816 | $219,402 | $1,147,900 |
| 3 | Brookline | $2,804 | $140,631 | $1,233,100 |
| 4 | Cambridge | $2,742 | $126,469 | $1,040,500 |
| 5 | Burlington | $2,597 | $142,207 | $679,400 |
Highest Income Cities in Massachusetts
All Cities in Massachusetts
| City | Population | Income | Rent | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | 663,972 | $94,755 | $2,093 | $710,400 |
| Worcester | 205,501 | $67,544 | $1,415 | $339,500 |
| Springfield | 154,751 | $51,339 | $1,114 | $222,700 |
| Cambridge | 117,794 | $126,469 | $2,742 | $1,040,500 |
| Lowell | 114,799 | $76,205 | $1,603 | $395,100 |
| Brockton | 105,080 | $77,089 | $1,545 | $405,500 |
| Quincy | 101,361 | $95,711 | $1,998 | $598,100 |
| Lynn | 100,905 | $74,715 | $1,612 | $472,600 |
| New Bedford | 100,731 | $56,025 | $1,085 | $324,400 |
| Fall River | 93,764 | $53,933 | $1,086 | $357,800 |
| Newton | 88,504 | $184,989 | $2,388 | $1,202,500 |
| Lawrence | 88,297 | $57,903 | $1,569 | $393,500 |
| Somerville | 80,549 | $127,056 | $2,468 | $899,400 |
| Framingham | 72,013 | $98,179 | $1,853 | $600,600 |
| Haverhill | 67,387 | $87,675 | $1,620 | $426,900 |
| Malden | 65,509 | $95,298 | $2,066 | $607,500 |
| Waltham | 64,723 | $116,560 | $2,232 | $705,700 |
| Brookline | 62,822 | $140,631 | $2,804 | $1,233,100 |
| Revere | 59,933 | $81,121 | $1,966 | $566,200 |
| Taunton | 59,719 | $79,715 | $1,269 | $388,200 |
| Medford | 59,062 | $118,089 | $2,477 | $715,500 |
| Weymouth Town | 57,786 | $100,077 | $1,861 | $516,200 |
| Chicopee | 55,213 | $66,927 | $1,108 | $251,800 |
| Peabody | 54,180 | $95,278 | $1,902 | $566,200 |
| Methuen Town | 53,043 | $103,270 | $1,610 | $472,200 |
| Everett | 49,236 | $79,658 | $1,988 | $605,200 |
| Barnstable Town | 49,232 | $97,348 | $1,751 | $559,200 |
| Attleboro | 46,499 | $93,266 | $1,446 | $409,100 |
| Arlington | 46,015 | $141,440 | $2,043 | $885,000 |
| Salem | 44,241 | $85,137 | $1,800 | $497,400 |
| Leominster | 43,697 | $81,556 | $1,282 | $345,000 |
| Pittsfield | 43,559 | $68,386 | $1,094 | $233,700 |
| Beverly | 42,408 | $103,739 | $1,683 | $621,900 |
| Fitchburg | 41,633 | $70,659 | $1,131 | $295,500 |
| Marlborough | 41,398 | $95,047 | $1,721 | $485,400 |
| Woburn | 41,205 | $107,754 | $2,190 | $641,800 |
| Westfield | 40,673 | $82,847 | $1,064 | $295,500 |
| Chelsea | 39,460 | $72,220 | $1,859 | $476,500 |
| Braintree Town | 38,762 | $125,305 | $1,925 | $623,200 |
| Holyoke | 37,949 | $51,892 | $1,016 | $255,300 |
| Amherst Town | 35,472 | $65,938 | $1,570 | $454,000 |
| Watertown Town | 35,270 | $123,422 | $2,357 | $737,600 |
| Randolph Town | 34,683 | $103,129 | $2,049 | $463,500 |
| Lexington | 34,085 | $219,402 | $2,816 | $1,147,900 |
| Franklin Town | 33,067 | $142,788 | $1,856 | $567,100 |
| Needham | 32,059 | $212,241 | $2,412 | $1,146,000 |
| Norwood | 31,380 | $97,110 | $2,056 | $613,500 |
| North Attleborough Town | 30,842 | $109,426 | $1,402 | $462,700 |
| Wellesley | 29,906 | $250,001 | $2,849 | $1,513,400 |
| Gloucester | 29,862 | $87,898 | $1,395 | $587,800 |
| Melrose | 29,488 | $126,854 | $1,933 | $796,100 |
| Bridgewater Town | 28,669 | $112,482 | $1,976 | $500,600 |
| Northampton | 28,640 | $78,467 | $1,404 | $398,000 |
| West Springfield Town | 28,635 | $70,401 | $1,121 | $307,900 |
| Saugus | 28,599 | $100,819 | $1,982 | $589,500 |
| Agawam Town | 28,510 | $82,359 | $1,234 | $290,000 |
| Milton | 28,481 | $178,053 | $1,503 | $896,500 |
| Danvers | 27,924 | $117,072 | $2,004 | $611,200 |
| Milford | 27,919 | $88,992 | $1,702 | $429,800 |
| Wakefield | 27,284 | $130,320 | $1,872 | $670,100 |
| Belmont | 27,009 | $178,188 | $2,387 | $1,108,800 |
| Burlington | 26,223 | $142,207 | $2,597 | $679,400 |
| Reading | 25,448 | $163,725 | $1,722 | $741,100 |
| Dedham | 25,109 | $124,375 | $2,058 | $630,400 |
Data Sources
All data from the US Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. State averages calculated from cities with population over 25,000.