City profile
Boston, MA
Historic world-class city with top hospitals, the Black Heritage Trail and superb transit.
Climate
Climate type
Four seasons
Winter avg
30°F
Summer avg
74°F
Sunny days / yr
200
Home prices & cost of living
Median home price
$780,000
Typical monthly housing
$4,849
Cost of living (100 = U.S.)
150
Taxes
- Property tax
- 1.11%
- State income tax (top)
- 9%
- Social Security
- Not taxed
- Pensions
- Partly exempt
- Sales tax (state + avg. local)
- 6.25%
FEMA natural hazard risk
Relatively Moderate · county score 94/100
Top hazards: Lightning, Heat wave, Earthquake
Nearest major airport
3 mi to Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Political lean (2024 county vote)
Leans Democratic · 77% Democratic / 21% Republican
Demographics (Census ACS)
Population (2024)
666,442
Growth since 2019
-2.6%
Median age
33.3
Residents 65+
13.6%
Median household income
$97,344
Income growth since 2019
+36.9%
Black household income
$60,003
Home ownership
35.7%
Poverty rate
16.6%
Poverty rate, 65+
20.6%
Race & ethnicity: Black 19.3% · White 44.1% · Hispanic 19.3% · Asian 10.3% · Other 7.1%
Crime (per 100,000 residents, 2025)
Violent crime
583 · 77% above the national average
Property crime
1,931 · 24% above the national average
Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer, Boston Police Department. State average: violent 301, property 1,036.
2025–2026 trends
2026 market trends
- ▸More retirees are leaving MA than arriving, mostly over cost
- ▸Home prices are still rising in 2026 — good for long-term value, less room to negotiate
- ▸Climate/cost risks to check: winter storms, high cost of living
Highlights
- Best-in-class hospitals
- Black Heritage Trail
- Excellent transit
Trade-offs
- Very expensive
- Cold winters
Figures are estimates from public sources (see How we match). Verify before making decisions.