2025 affordability guide — compare housing costs, rental prices, and living expenses across 163 cities in Massachusetts.
Average median home value across Massachusetts cities.
Rental data covers median monthly rent for tracked cities in Massachusetts.
COL index 122.5 vs. national average of 100. Expect higher living costs than the national average.
Quick look at the cost extremes across Massachusetts.
Sorted from most expensive to most affordable. Click any city for a detailed breakdown with housing, rental, and income data.
| # | City | COL Index | Affordability | Median Home | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Popponesset Island CDP | 230.3 | Very Expensive | $2,000,001 | N/A |
| 2 | Wellesley CDP | 193.8 | Very Expensive | $1,513,400 | N/A |
| 3 | Nantucket CDP | 182.2 | Very Expensive | $1,359,200 | N/A |
| 4 | Brookline CDP | 172.7 | Very Expensive | $1,233,100 | N/A |
| 5 | Dover CDP | 172.5 | Very Expensive | $1,230,600 | N/A |
| 6 | Madaket CDP | 172.2 | Very Expensive | $1,226,600 | N/A |
| 7 | Winchester CDP | 168.8 | Very Expensive | $1,181,700 | N/A |
| 8 | Lexington CDP | 166.3 | Very Expensive | $1,147,900 | N/A |
| 9 | Monomoscoy Island CDP | 156.9 | Very Expensive | $1,022,700 | N/A |
| 10 | South Duxbury CDP | 154.2 | Very Expensive | $987,500 | N/A |
| 11 | Boxford CDP | 153.5 | Very Expensive | $977,400 | N/A |
| 12 | Marblehead CDP | 148.1 | Very Expensive | $906,200 | N/A |
| 13 | Lynnfield CDP | 148.0 | Very Expensive | $904,200 | N/A |
| 14 | Somerville | 147.6 | Very Expensive | $899,400 | N/A |
| 15 | Milton CDP | 147.4 | Very Expensive | $896,500 | N/A |
| 16 | West Concord CDP | 146.3 | Very Expensive | $881,800 | N/A |
| 17 | Woods Hole CDP | 145.9 | Very Expensive | $876,700 | N/A |
| 18 | Cochituate CDP | 144.8 | Very Expensive | $862,000 | N/A |
| 19 | Dennis CDP | 142.8 | Very Expensive | $835,300 | N/A |
| 20 | Vineyard Haven CDP | 141.3 | Very Expensive | $815,000 | N/A |
Complete directory of every tracked city and town. Filter or scroll to find yours.
States like Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Kansas typically have lower costs of living compared to coastal states.
RPP (Regional Price Parity) measures the price level for all items. COL Index combines RPP, housing, and rental data for a comprehensive comparison.
Data: BEA Regional Price Parities, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, HUD Fair Market Rents. Our Methodology · Data Sources