Massachusetts
Among the top 16% of US states for safety & wellbeing.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade F, better than 8% of US states
WeatherWeather: grade F, better than 10% of US states
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade B+, better than 84% of US states
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade B+, better than 79% of US states
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade B+, better than 77% of US states
- top 3% for school quality
- top 8% for airport distance
- bottom 6% for monthly rent
Massachusetts is a U.S. state with about 6,984,000 residents. It grades B+ for safety & wellbeing and F for affordability. Standout strengths include school quality, airport distance, and property crime. It rates lower on commute time and monthly rent.
Official websitemass.gov (opens in new tab)
- The median home value in Massachusetts is $518k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Median household income in Massachusetts is $99k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Median gross rent in Massachusetts is $2k a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Massachusetts has a violent crime rate of 1048/100k, per the FBI Uniform Crime Reports.
- The average one-way commute in Massachusetts is 29 min, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$99k96th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$69kbetter than 8% of US states
Home Value$518k90th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$2kbetter than 6% of US states
Monthly Owner Costs$208kbetter than 16% of US states
Property Tax Rate1.14%better than 33% of US states
Income Tax8.99%better than 12% of US states
Sales Tax6.25%better than 68% of US states
Estimated total tax burden16.75%better than 8% of US states
Unemployment5.3%better than 37% of US states
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)27°F27th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)73°F27th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation48.8 in71st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall51.2 inbetter than 16% of US states
Sunny Days190 daysbetter than 10% of US states
Summer Humidity62°Fbetter than 61% of US states
Comfortable Days87 daysbetter than 62% of US states
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk92.3better than 20% of US states
Air Quality41 AQIbetter than 76% of US states
School Quality100.0better than 97% of US states
Violent Crime1048/100kbetter than 60% of US states
Property Crime1077/100kbetter than 92% of US states
Community
Population6,984,20573rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age40.273rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.4453rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio0.9616th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningD+356th percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)68.9%51st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)6.6%47th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)12.6%65th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)6.9%88th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)5.0%73rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time29 minbetter than 8% of US states
Walkability11.2/20better than 88% of US states
Airport Distance24 mibetter than 92% of US states
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access90.7%better than 88% of US states
Amenities Nearby5.51better than 75% of US states
Park & Nature AccessModeratebetter than 29% of US states
Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)
Frequently asked questions
- Is Massachusetts an affordable place to live?
- Massachusetts is relatively expensive. Its cost-of-living index is $69k, better than 8% of comparable areas. Median rent is $2k.
- Is Massachusetts safe?
- Massachusetts is safer than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 1048/100k (better than 60%). Property crime is 1077/100k.
- What is the weather like in Massachusetts?
- Massachusetts averages 73°F in July and 27°F in January, with 48.8 in of annual precipitation and about 190 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Massachusetts?
- Public-school quality in Massachusetts is above average, scoring better than 97% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Massachusetts?
- The average one-way commute in Massachusetts is 29 min.