The typical owner-occupied home in Boston is worth about $731,700, 30% above the Massachusetts median of $562,100 and 2.2 times the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $4,456 a year in property taxes, about 0.61% of their home's value, lower than the Massachusetts rate of 1.07%. The median household earns $97,344 a year, so the median home costs 7.5 times the median income (5.4 times for Massachusetts). 36% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 70% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Boston at a glance
| Boston | Massachusetts | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $731,700 | $562,100 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $4,456 | $5,992 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 0.61% | 1.07% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $97,344 | $103,960 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 36% | 63% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 70% | 66% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $2,986 | $2,726 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 21.3% | 21.9% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $2,147 | $1,762 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 30.6% | 30.9% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1947 | 1964 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 8.8% | 8.1% | 10.1% |
| Population | 666,442 | 7,044,056 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Boston
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Boston home of $731,700 with 20% down costs about $4,615 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $5,833, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $197,767 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 57% of the median Boston household income of $97,344; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $360,000.
The median rent here is $2,147 a month, so owning the median home costs about $2,468 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $146,340 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $585,360 |
| Principal and interest | $3,938 |
| Property taxes (0.61% a year) | $372 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $305 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $4,615 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $25,610 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $718,447 |
| Principal and interest | $4,833 |
| Property taxes (0.61% a year) | $372 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $305 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $324 |
| Total per month | $5,833 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Boston
What is the median home value in Boston?
About $731,700 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Boston?
Homeowners pay a median $4,456 a year, which is about 0.61% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in Boston?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $4,615 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $197,767 a year.
More about Boston
- Mortgage Refinance in Boston
- Debt Relief in Boston
- Home Equity Loans in Boston
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data