Boston MA
Massachusetts · Pop. 666,442
Boston, MA: median household income of $97,344, median rent of $2,147/mo, 6.1% unemployment. Our verdict: Needs Work.
Score Breakdown
Key Metrics
Median Income
$97,344
per year
Median Rent
$2,147
per month
Median Home
$732k
home value
Unemployment
6.1%
of labor force
Poverty Rate
16.6%
below poverty line
Avg. Commute
30 min
one way
City Reality Check honest
"Boston, MA Reality Check"
In Boston, the rent-to-income burden runs around 26% — acceptable by national standards. Median income sits at $97,344 and median rent is $2,147/month. 49% of renters are cost-burdened (30%+ of income on housing). Landlords are winning; everyone else is treading water. Median home value: $731,700 — that's 7.5× the median income. 55% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher — a highly educated workforce that drives (and inflates) this local economy. Employment picture: 6.10% unemployment — a average employment landscape. Poverty rate: 16.6%. Average commute: 30 minutes — acceptable. Violent crime: 51/100k avg monthly rate (16757 reported); Property crime: 152.4/100k avg monthly rate (50112 reported). Boston was founded in 1630 — that's 396 years of history baked into the streets. The city covers 89.6 sq miles at 7,435 people/sq mile — moderately dense. Elevation: 141 ft — essentially flat — floods are a real conversation. Known as: "Beantown | The Cradle of Liberty | The Hub". Boston has 13 sister cities — cosmopolitan on paper, at least. RoastMyCity overall score: 54/100 — Needs Work.
Local Context
Safety
/100Violent crime: 51/100k avg monthly rate (16757 reported); Property crime: 152.4/100k avg monthly rate (50112 reported).