Massachusetts Cost of Living by County

Compare annual cost of living, median household income, affordability, and major expense drivers across Massachusetts counties. These estimates are based on a single adult household with no children. Cost rank for each county in Massachusetts are rated from highest modeled total costs to lowest.

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Counties tracked:

14Across Massachusetts

Median Household Income:

$120,510In Massachusetts

Median Annual Cost:

$64,576Across Massachusetts

Most Expensive County:

Nantucket County, MA $90,967

Lowest modeled cost county:

Hampden County, MA$48,361

State National Rank

#3Most expensive state across the U.S.Out of 50 states plus D.C.

Barnstable County, MA

Cost Rank: 6 / 14
Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$69,386

Median Household Income:

$124,037

Cost / Income ratio :

55.9%

Housing30%
Food8%
Transport19%
Healthcare8%
Other Costs12%
Taxes23%

Biggest category: Housing$20,868

Cheaper Alternatives: Hampden County, MAFranklin County, MA

View County Breakdown →

Berkshire County, MA

Cost Rank: 12 / 14
Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$52,415

Median Household Income:

$95,050

Cost / Income ratio :

55.1%

Housing25%
Food9%
Transport25%
Healthcare10%
Other Costs11%
Taxes20%

Biggest category: Housing$13,243

Cheaper Alternatives: Hampden County, MA

View County Breakdown →

Bristol County, MA

Cost Rank: 11 / 14
Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$52,823

Median Household Income:

$107,459

Cost / Income ratio :

49.2%

Housing28%
Food8%
Transport23%
Healthcare9%
Other Costs11%
Taxes20%

Biggest category: Housing$14,921

Cheaper Alternatives: Hampden County, MA

View County Breakdown →

Dukes County, MA

Cost Rank: 5 / 14
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$73,127

Median Household Income:

$141,907

Cost / Income ratio :

51.5%

Housing28%
Food8%
Transport20%
Healthcare9%
Other Costs11%
Taxes24%

Biggest category: Housing$20,412

Cheaper Alternatives: Hampden County, MAFranklin County, MA

View County Breakdown →

Essex County, MA

Cost Rank: 8 / 14
Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$62,616

Median Household Income:

$125,134

Cost / Income ratio :

50.0%

Housing30%
Food8%
Transport20%
Healthcare8%
Other Costs12%
Taxes22%

Biggest category: Housing$19,061

Cheaper Alternatives: Hampden County, MAFranklin County, MA

See Los Angeles County vs Essex County →View County Breakdown →

Franklin County, MA

Cost Rank: 13 / 14
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$52,147

Median Household Income:

$96,152

Cost / Income ratio :

54.2%

Housing25%
Food9%
Transport26%
Healthcare10%
Other Costs10%
Taxes20%

Biggest category: Transport$13,480

Cheaper Alternatives:

View County Breakdown →

Hampden County, MA

Cost Rank: 14 / 14
Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$48,361

Median Household Income:

$89,744

Cost / Income ratio :

53.9%

Housing25%
Food9%
Transport25%
Healthcare11%
Other Costs11%
Taxes20%

Biggest category: Housing$12,065

Cheaper Alternatives:

View County Breakdown →

Hampshire County, MA

Cost Rank: 10 / 14
Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$55,758

Median Household Income:

$116,070

Cost / Income ratio :

48.0%

Housing26%
Food9%
Transport24%
Healthcare9%
Other Costs11%
Taxes21%

Biggest category: Housing$14,544

Cheaper Alternatives: Hampden County, MAFranklin County, MA

View County Breakdown →

Middlesex County, MA

Cost Rank: 4 / 14
Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$78,681

Median Household Income:

$160,640

Cost / Income ratio :

49.0%

Housing34%
Food6%
Transport16%
Healthcare6%
Other Costs13%
Taxes24%

Biggest category: Housing$26,884

Cheaper Alternatives: Hampden County, MAFranklin County, MA

See Los Angeles County vs Middlesex County →View County Breakdown →

Nantucket County, MA

Cost Rank: 1 / 14
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$90,967

Median Household Income:

$151,336

Cost / Income ratio :

60.1%

Housing30%
Food7%
Transport17%
Healthcare8%
Other Costs11%
Taxes26%

Biggest category: Housing$27,576

Cheaper Alternatives: Hampden County, MAFranklin County, MA

View County Breakdown →

Norfolk County, MA

Cost Rank: 2 / 14
Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$84,392

Median Household Income:

$163,845

Cost / Income ratio :

51.5%

Housing35%
Food6%
Transport16%
Healthcare6%
Other Costs13%
Taxes25%

Biggest category: Housing$29,195

Cheaper Alternatives: Hampden County, MAFranklin County, MA

See Los Angeles County vs Norfolk County →View County Breakdown →

Plymouth County, MA

Cost Rank: 7 / 14
Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$66,536

Median Household Income:

$133,494

Cost / Income ratio :

49.8%

Housing30%
Food7%
Transport21%
Healthcare7%
Other Costs12%
Taxes23%

Biggest category: Housing$20,011

Cheaper Alternatives: Hampden County, MAFranklin County, MA

View County Breakdown →

Suffolk County, MA

Cost Rank: 3 / 14
Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$81,765

Median Household Income:

$110,193

Cost / Income ratio :

74.2%

Housing34%
Food6%
Transport16%
Healthcare6%
Other Costs13%
Taxes25%

Biggest category: Housing$27,925

Cheaper Alternatives: Hampden County, MAFranklin County, MA

See Los Angeles County vs Suffolk County →View County Breakdown →

Worcester County, MA

Cost Rank: 9 / 14
Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$57,659

Median Household Income:

$116,982

Cost / Income ratio :

49.3%

Housing28%
Food8%
Transport23%
Healthcare9%
Other Costs11%
Taxes21%

Biggest category: Housing$16,350

Cheaper Alternatives: Hampden County, MAFranklin County, MA

See Los Angeles County vs Worcester County →View County Breakdown →

* Some counties might be unavailable