Cost of Living in Massachusetts

Avg Index: 149

89 cities · Updated March 2026

$1,755
Avg Rent / Month
$107,332
Avg Income
$582,537
Avg Home Value
149
Avg Cost Index
9.0%
Income Tax
6.25%
Sales Tax
Cheapest in Massachusetts
North Adams
Index: 58 · Rent: $777/mo
Most Expensive in Massachusetts
Wellesley
Index: 312 · Rent: $2,849/mo

Massachusetts Cost of Living Overview

Massachusetts is more expensive than the national average, with an average cost index of 149 across 89 cities. The average monthly rent across Massachusetts cities is $1,755, with median household incomes averaging $107,332 per year. The cheapest city is North Adams (index 58) and the most expensive is Wellesley (index 312).

With a top income tax rate of 9.0%, Massachusetts has one of the higher tax burdens in the US. The 6.25% sales tax and 1.15% property tax rate add to the overall cost.

All 89 Cities in Massachusetts — Ranked by Cost

Sorted from cheapest to most expensive (US average = 100)

#CityCost Index RentIncomeHome ValuePopulation
1 North Adams 58 $777/mo $48,521 $185,300 12,660
2 Holyoke 77 $1,016/mo $51,892 $255,300 37,949
3 Pittsfield 78 $1,094/mo $68,386 $233,700 43,559
4 Springfield 79 $1,114/mo $51,339 $222,700 154,751
5 Chicopee 80 $1,108/mo $66,927 $251,800 55,213
6 Greenfield 80 $1,097/mo $53,961 $252,000 17,662
7 Gardner 81 $1,071/mo $62,948 $271,300 21,075
8 Palmer 81 $1,041/mo $78,789 $255,000 12,372
9 Southbridge 85 $1,157/mo $59,397 $267,000 17,806
10 Westfield 85 $1,064/mo $82,847 $295,500 40,673
11 New Bedford 87 $1,085/mo $56,025 $324,400 100,731
12 Webster 87 $1,112/mo $60,384 $303,900 12,300
13 West Springfield 89 $1,121/mo $70,401 $307,900 28,635
14 Fitchburg 90 $1,131/mo $70,659 $295,500 41,633
15 Agawam 91 $1,234/mo $82,359 $290,000 28,510
16 Fall River 91 $1,086/mo $53,933 $357,800 93,764
17 Easthampton 96 $1,192/mo $72,925 $343,800 16,103
18 Leominster 100 $1,282/mo $81,556 $345,000 43,697
19 Worcester 104 $1,415/mo $67,544 $339,500 205,501
20 Taunton 105 $1,269/mo $79,715 $388,200 59,719
21 Somerset 108 $1,313/mo $111,720 $389,400 18,246
22 Northampton 110 $1,404/mo $78,467 $398,000 28,640
23 Attleboro 116 $1,446/mo $93,266 $409,100 46,499
24 Lawrence 116 $1,569/mo $57,903 $393,500 88,297
25 Hudson 118 $1,417/mo $96,149 $457,400 15,610
26 Lowell 119 $1,603/mo $76,205 $395,100 114,799
27 Brockton 120 $1,545/mo $77,089 $405,500 105,080
28 North Attleborough 120 $1,402/mo $109,426 $462,700 30,842
29 Amherst 124 $1,570/mo $65,938 $454,000 35,472
30 Haverhill 124 $1,620/mo $87,675 $426,900 67,387
31 South Yarmouth 127 $1,665/mo $79,638 $465,100 11,642
32 Milford 128 $1,702/mo $88,992 $429,800 27,919
33 Holbrook 129 $1,522/mo $107,768 $436,500 11,320
34 Lynn 130 $1,612/mo $74,715 $472,600 100,905
35 Methuen 130 $1,610/mo $103,270 $472,200 53,043
36 Amesbury 134 $1,573/mo $100,599 $475,400 17,277
37 Gloucester 135 $1,395/mo $87,898 $587,800 29,862
38 Longmeadow 135 $1,650/mo $144,639 $425,800 15,724
39 Marlborough 136 $1,721/mo $95,047 $485,400 41,398
40 Abington 140 $1,547/mo $119,787 $516,300 17,008
41 Chelsea 140 $1,859/mo $72,220 $476,500 39,460
42 Salem 140 $1,800/mo $85,137 $497,400 44,241
43 Maynard 141 $1,678/mo $119,549 $494,200 10,663
44 Barnstable 145 $1,751/mo $97,348 $559,200 49,232
45 Weymouth 145 $1,861/mo $100,077 $516,200 57,786
46 Randolph 146 $2,049/mo $103,129 $463,500 34,683
47 Bridgewater 148 $1,976/mo $112,482 $500,600 28,669
48 Peabody 151 $1,902/mo $95,278 $566,200 54,180
49 Beverly 153 $1,683/mo $103,739 $621,900 42,408
50 Revere 153 $1,966/mo $81,121 $566,200 59,933
51 Framingham 154 $1,853/mo $98,179 $600,600 72,013
52 Franklin 155 $1,856/mo $142,788 $567,100 33,067
53 Hull 158 $1,885/mo $127,112 $606,100 10,098
54 Stoneham 158 $1,878/mo $112,635 $629,000 22,986
55 Winthrop 158 $1,909/mo $106,357 $606,900 18,807
56 Quincy 159 $1,998/mo $95,711 $598,100 101,361
57 Saugus 159 $1,982/mo $100,819 $589,500 28,599
58 Everett 160 $1,988/mo $79,658 $605,200 49,236
59 Braintree 162 $1,925/mo $125,305 $623,200 38,762
60 Malden 162 $2,066/mo $95,298 $607,500 65,509
61 Norwood 162 $2,056/mo $97,110 $613,500 31,380
62 Danvers 163 $2,004/mo $117,072 $611,200 27,924
63 Dedham 169 $2,058/mo $124,375 $630,400 25,109
64 Wakefield 169 $1,872/mo $130,320 $670,100 27,284
65 Newburyport 170 $1,511/mo $144,259 $792,400 18,444
66 Woburn 172 $2,190/mo $107,754 $641,800 41,205
67 Reading 175 $1,722/mo $163,725 $741,100 25,448
68 Boston 176 $2,093/mo $94,755 $710,400 663,972
69 Waltham 180 $2,232/mo $116,560 $705,700 64,723
70 Melrose 182 $1,933/mo $126,854 $796,100 29,488
71 Wilmington 184 $2,412/mo $161,473 $646,200 23,195
72 Swampscott 186 $2,223/mo $128,964 $690,800 15,209
73 Burlington 191 $2,597/mo $142,207 $679,400 26,223
74 Medford 191 $2,477/mo $118,089 $715,500 59,062
75 Watertown 191 $2,357/mo $123,422 $737,600 35,270
76 Milton 192 $1,503/mo $178,053 $896,500 28,481
77 Arlington 196 $2,043/mo $141,440 $885,000 46,015
78 Marblehead 197 $1,769/mo $165,859 $906,200 20,334
79 Somerville 214 $2,468/mo $127,056 $899,400 80,549
80 Lynnfield 219 $2,333/mo $172,484 $904,200 12,964
81 Belmont 238 $2,387/mo $178,188 $1,108,800 27,009
82 Cambridge 239 $2,742/mo $126,469 $1,040,500 117,794
83 Newton 251 $2,388/mo $184,989 $1,202,500 88,504
84 Winchester 252 $2,271/mo $218,176 $1,181,700 22,862
85 Needham 253 $2,412/mo $212,241 $1,146,000 32,059
86 Brookline 266 $2,804/mo $140,631 $1,233,100 62,822
87 Lexington 268 $2,816/mo $219,402 $1,147,900 34,085
88 Nantucket 276 $2,484/mo $109,988 $1,359,200 10,837
89 Wellesley 312 $2,849/mo $250,001 $1,513,400 29,906

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about cost of living in Massachusetts

What is the cost of living in Massachusetts?
The average cost of living index across 89 cities in Massachusetts is 149 (US average = 100). Average rent is $1,755/month and median household income averages $107,332/year.
What is the cheapest city in Massachusetts?
The cheapest city in Massachusetts is North Adams with a cost index of 58, median rent of $777/month, and median income of $48,521/year.
What is the most expensive city in Massachusetts?
The most expensive city in Massachusetts is Wellesley with a cost index of 312, median rent of $2,849/month, and median income of $250,001/year.
What are taxes like in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts has a top income tax rate of 9.0%, a sales tax of 6.25%, and an effective property tax rate of 1.15%.
How many cities does CostToLive cover in Massachusetts?
We track cost of living data for 89 cities in Massachusetts with populations of 10,000 or more, using US Census Bureau ACS 2023 data.