BestCityFor

Best city for remote work? Boston, MA

C
Score
46/100
Rank #135 (top 200 cities)
Data: ACS 2023 (5-year)

Boston is more of a niche fit for remote work—best if you prioritize median household income and work-from-home share. Overall, it’s a more specialized pick in this set (#135 of 200). One thing to keep in mind is commute 45+ min share.

Methodology · Sources · MA rankings

Scope note (city proper)

This page scores the incorporated city limits (Census “Place”), not the metro area. That’s why some cities can look very different vs their surrounding region.

Why Boston ranks here

  • Median household income: $94,755 (25% higher than the national median; better for this metric).
  • Work-from-home share: 19% (52% higher than the national median; better for this metric).
  • Broadband subscription: 91% (0% lower than the national median; worse for this metric).

Watch-outs

  • Commute 45+ min share: 22% (97% higher than the national median; worse for this metric).
  • Typical rent (2BR): $2,155/mo (50% higher than the national median; worse for this metric).

City snapshot

Basic demographics from ACS 2023 (city proper).

Population
663,972
Estimated total population (ACS).
Male vs female
Male 48%Female 52%

Key metrics

Values shown are from ACS 2023. National medians are computed across the ranked city set.

Typical rent (2BR)
$2,155/mo
National median: $1,441/mo
Work-from-home share
19%
National median: 12%
Broadband subscription
91%
National median: 91%
Median household income
$94,755
National median: $75,598
Bachelor’s+ rate
54%
National median: 35%
Commute 45+ min share
22%
National median: 11%

Score breakdown (by category)

Category scores are 0–100 and summarize groups of metrics used in the final score.

City
National median (dataset)
Affordability
Typical 2BR rent and housing pressure.
16/100
Connectivity
Broadband availability as a practical remote-work proxy.
91/100
Workforce
Remote-work adoption and human-capital signals.
44/100
Comfort
Commute friction and climate comfort.
78/100

Education (age 25+)

Share of adults by attainment (ACS).

11%
Less than HS
35%
HS / Some college
28%
Bachelor’s
26%
Advanced

Work style

WFH vs not WFH (ACS).

19%
Work from home
81%
Not WFH

Internet access

Household broadband subscription (ACS).

91%
Broadband
9%
No broadband

Map

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Scorecard breakdown

Bars are rescaled to 0–100 for readability (percentage metrics use their actual percent).

City
National median (dataset)
Typical rent (2BR)
National median $1,441/mo
$2,155/mo
Broadband subscription
National median 91%
91%
Work-from-home share
National median 12%
19%
Median household income
National median $75,598
$94,755
Bachelor’s+ rate
National median 35%
54%
Commute 45+ min share
National median 11%
22%

Similar cities (by score)

#133 Houston, TX
46/100
#134 Fort Lauderdale, FL
46/100
#136 Las Vegas, NV
46/100
#137 Fresno, CA
46/100

FAQ

›What is Boston’s remote work score and rank?
Boston, MA scores C (46/100) and ranks #135 out of the top 200 US cities in this dataset.
›Is this based on Boston city proper or the metro area?
City proper (incorporated place). This uses Census ‘Place’ boundaries, not the metro area. Metro-level rankings can differ a lot from the city itself.
›What is the population of Boston, MA?
Population is about 663,972 (ACS 2023, city proper).
›What is the male vs female split in Boston, MA?
About 48% male and 52% female (ACS 2023).
›What is a typical monthly rent in Boston, MA?
Typical rent (2BR) is $2,155/mo (national median: $1,441/mo).
›What share of workers work from home in Boston, MA?
Work-from-home share is 19% (national median: 12%).
›How common is broadband internet in Boston, MA?
Broadband subscription is 91% of households (national median: 91%).
›What does the education mix look like in Boston, MA?
Among adults 25+, the shares are roughly: less than HS 11%, HS/some college 35%, bachelor’s 28%, advanced 26%.
›Where does this data come from for Boston, MA?
Metrics are from Census ACS 2023 5-year estimates (city proper / incorporated place), with optional NOAA climate normals when available.

Note: Scores are informational and depend on data coverage and methodology. Always validate against your personal constraints (job, neighborhood, commute, safety, schools, healthcare).