Cost of living in Massachusetts
Prices in Massachusetts are 5.8% above the US average (7th highest of 51). A single filer on $75,000 pays $3,530 in state income tax. State sales tax: 6.25%.
Price levels in Massachusetts
| BEA RPP 2024 | Massachusetts | vs US (100) |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 105.8 | +5.8% |
| Goods | 98.8 | −1.2% |
| Housing (rents) | 128.1 | +28.1% |
| Utilities | 152.1 | +52.1% |
| Other services | 102.9 | +2.9% |
Metros in Massachusetts
Metros whose principal city is in Massachusetts. “Left over” = a single renter earning $60,000, after 2026 taxes (including the principal city’s local tax) and modeled costs.
| Metro | Population | Price level | 2-BR FMR | Infant care / wk* | Left over / mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston, MA-NH | 5,034,221 | 108.3 | $3,008 | $590 | −$232 |
| Worcester, MA | 888,502 | 102.5 | $2,043 | $390 | $737 |
| Springfield, MA | 464,338 | 96.1 | $1,800 | $330 | $903 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | 233,539 | 98.4 | $2,488 | $352 | $422 |
| Amherst Town, MA | 164,065 | 100.2 | $2,034 | $330 | $731 |
| Pittsfield, MA | 128,224 | 95.1 | $1,704 | $330 | $1,000 |
*Center-based, DOL 2022 price for the metro’s principal county; a year in brackets marks an older latest-available price. “No data”: DOL publishes no price for that county, and childcare is left out of its budgets.
Also partly in Massachusetts: Providence, RI-MA.
Taxes in Massachusetts (2026)
| Annual tax | Single, $50,000 | Single, $75,000 | Single, $120,000 | Couple, 2 kids, $120,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | $3,820 | $7,670 | $17,570 | $5,640 |
| Social Security + Medicare | $3,825 | $5,738 | $9,180 | $9,180 |
| Massachusetts income tax | $2,280 | $3,530 | $5,780 | $5,460 |
| Massachusetts payroll taxes | $230 | $345 | $552 | $552 |
| Take-home pay / month | $3,320 | $4,810 | $7,243 | $8,264 |
Annual liability, standard deduction, Child Tax Credit; local income taxes are not included in this state-level table (see each metro). On $75,000, Massachusetts’s income and payroll taxes cost $3,875 a year more than in a state without them (federal taxes are the same: $13,408).
Childcare prices across Massachusetts
| Age band | Center, median county / wk (2022) | Center / yr today* | Home-based / wk (2022) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (under 2) | $352 | $22,375 | $263 |
| Toddler (2) | $320 | $20,341 | $249 |
| Preschool (3–4) | $270 | $17,162 | $243 |
| School-age (5–12) | $210 | $13,349 | $238 |
Center-based infant care ranges from $330 a week in Hampshire County to $590 in Suffolk County (2022 prices).
DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2022; median across 14 counties with 2022 data. *52 weeks × 1.2224 BLS CPI for day care and preschool, 2022 average to 2026-08. Look up a county.
Property taxes by county
Effective rate = Census median real estate taxes ÷ median home value (ACS 2020-2024), metro-area counties.
| County | Median value | Median tax | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hampden County | $298,800 | $4,455 | 1.49% |
| Hampshire County | $390,300 | $5,589 | 1.43% |
| Berkshire County | $305,400 | $4,036 | 1.32% |
| Worcester County | $423,700 | $5,438 | 1.28% |
| Plymouth County | $556,000 | $6,502 | 1.17% |
| Norfolk County | $683,900 | $7,261 | 1.06% |
| Essex County | $619,100 | $6,430 | 1.04% |
| Middlesex County | $727,800 | $7,501 | 1.03% |
| Barnstable County | $629,000 | $4,239 | 0.67% |
| Suffolk County | $705,800 | $4,649 | 0.66% |
Five highest and five lowest of 11 counties.
Energy and fuel
EIA: electricity 2025, natural gas 2024, gasoline week ending 2026-10-05.
Who moves to and from Massachusetts
Census state-to-state migration flows (2024 ACS 1-year; people 1 year and over, ± margin of error at 90%). Totals cover moves between states and DC only: 151,762 in, 182,315 out (net −30,553).
- New York18,697 ±3,077
- Rhode Island15,235 ±4,211
- California13,810 ±2,866
- New Hampshire11,286 ±2,887
- Florida10,580 ±2,788
- Connecticut9,936 ±1,952
- Maine6,746 ±2,201
- New Jersey6,536 ±1,517
- Florida21,834 ±4,803
- New Hampshire20,310 ±3,696
- New York17,862 ±2,974
- California15,720 ±3,343
- Connecticut11,612 ±2,586
- Rhode Island11,568 ±2,985
- Texas9,454 ±2,933
- Maine6,723 ±2,509
Frequently asked questions
Is Massachusetts expensive to live in?+
BEA’s Regional Price Parities put Massachusetts’s overall price level at 105.8 in 2024 (US = 100), the 7th highest of 51 states and DC. Housing is 128.1 and goods 98.8.
Does Massachusetts have a state income tax?+
Yes. A single filer earning $75,000 owes about $3,530 in Massachusetts income tax under 2026 law (4.7% of pay), plus $345 in state payroll taxes.
What is the sales tax in Massachusetts?+
The state rate is 6.25% (as of 2026-10-13); groceries are exempt from the state rate. Local sales taxes can add to this.
What is the most affordable metro in Massachusetts?+
For a single renter earning $60,000, Pittsfield, MA leaves the most each month after taxes and modeled costs ($1,000), and Boston, MA-NH the least (−$232).