Most Affordable Cities in Massachusetts

Cost of living rankings for 122 cities in Massachusetts with uncapped home, rent, and income estimates. On average, Massachusetts is expensive with a statewide average Cost Index of 162.

1 source baseline is past its update cadence — newer official vintage not reflected

Cheapest City

North Adams

Index: 105

Most Expensive

Nantucket

Index: 453

State Average

162

National: 100

Cities Ranked

122

eligible statewide total

Massachusetts Affordability Ranking

Showing 101–122 of 122 eligible cities — 22 on this page. Page 3 of 3.

#	City	Index	Home Value	Rent	Income
101	Sharon	192	$879,235	$3,100	$183,808
102	Burlington	193	$877,363	$3,271	$146,436
103	Melrose	195	$915,288	$3,055	$133,953
104	Reading	195	$917,695	$3,008	$165,912
105	Somerville	200	$923,850	$3,414	$132,572
106	Newburyport	200	$938,245	$3,206	$139,625
107	Andover	203	$999,919	$2,850	$126,563
108	Marblehead	210	$1,053,887	$2,986	$182,132
109	Arlington	212	$1,071,128	$2,920	$150,701
110	Scituate	212	$1,037,068	$3,260	$124,549
111	Cambridge	213	$1,031,739	$3,476	$130,748
112	Milton	214	$1,083,963	$3,008	$188,529
113	Medfield	214	$1,084,632	$3,008	$218,946
114	Lynnfield	219	$1,105,557	$3,238	$175,265
115	Brookline	225	$1,122,975	$3,559	$142,101
116	Belmont	257	$1,446,989	$3,116	$183,137
117	Hingham	257	$1,352,390	$4,104	$205,769
118	Newton	268	$1,509,055	$3,408	$190,304
119	Needham	274	$1,560,109	$3,453	$214,308
120	Winchester	275	$1,548,862	$3,681	$230,198
121	Lexington	281	$1,574,814	$3,902	$238,444
122	Nantucket	453	$3,171,248	$3,583	$148,017

2026 edition — based on ACS 2024, Zillow 2026-08, HUD FY2027, and BEA 2024 dated sources. The edition year is not the observation year.

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