BestCityFor

Best city for retirement? Boston, MA

F
Score
31/100
Rank #194 (top 200 cities)
Data: ACS 2023 (5-year)

Boston can still work for retirement if you’re leaning into median household income and typical home value. Overall, it’s a more specialized pick in this set (#194 of 200). The main watch-out 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. Popular retirement destinations can look very different at the metro level.

Why Boston ranks here

  • Median household income: $94,755 (25% higher than the national median; better for this metric).
  • Typical home value: $710,400 (104% 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).

Watch-outs

  • Commute 45+ min share: 22% (97% higher than the national median; worse for this metric).
  • Age 65+ share: 13% (7% lower 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
Typical home value
$710,400
National median: $347,900
Age 65+ share
13%
National median: 14%
Median age
33
National median: —
Median household income
$94,755
National median: $75,598
Broadband subscription
91%
National median: 91%

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 typical home value.
21/100
Retiree Signals
Age mix and income as broad service proxies.
38/100
Connectivity
Broadband access for everyday logistics.
91/100
Comfort
Climate comfort and commute friction.
78/100

Education (age 25+)

Share of adults by attainment (ACS).

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

Age mix

Share of residents age 65+ (ACS).

13%
Age 65+
87%
Under 65

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
Typical home value
National median $347,900
$710,400
Age 65+ share
National median 14%
13%
Median household income
National median $75,598
$94,755
Broadband subscription
National median 91%
91%
Commute 45+ min share
National median 11%
22%

Similar cities (by score)

#192 Pasadena, CA
32/100
#193 Seattle, WA
32/100
#195 Anaheim, CA
31/100
#196 Fremont, CA
30/100

FAQ

›What is Boston’s retirement score and rank?
Boston, MA scores F (31/100) and ranks #194 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 retirement patterns 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).
›How affordable is housing in Boston, MA?
Typical rent (2BR) is $2,155/mo (national median: $1,441/mo). Typical home value is $710,400 (national median: $347,900).
›What share of residents are 65+ in Boston, MA?
Age 65+ share is 13% (national median: 14%).
›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 (healthcare access, neighborhoods, taxes, climate preferences, support network).