Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Boston, MA

    Is Boston a good place to live?

    Watch Boston

    Boston ranks #57 of 64 Massachusetts cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (30/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population fell 0.3% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $710,400
    +3.7% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $2,093
    per month
    Household income
    $94,755
    median
    Unemployment
    6.0%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Boston

    The median home value in Boston is $710,400 and median rent is $2,093 a month, against a median household income of $94,755. Homes cost about 7.5× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Boston crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Massachusetts the 2025 rate was 301 violent and 1,036 property crimes per 100,000 people — #42 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Boston, MA

    Boston has about 663,972 residents, 6.0% unemployment and 28% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Boston with

    Boston vs WorcesterBoston vs SpringfieldBoston vs CambridgeBoston vs LowellBoston vs BrocktonBoston vs QuincyBoston vs LynnBoston vs New Bedford

    More: Where to move in Massachusetts · Best counties in Massachusetts

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report