Massachusetts
D+28 · High tax burden · COL index 148
9%
Income Tax
338
Violent Crime / 100K
80
Life Expectancy
$580K
Median Home
$2,400
Childcare / Mo
State Profile
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Taxes
Income Tax
5% standard + 4% surtax on income over $1M
Property Tax
~$6,032/yr on median home
Sales Tax
Social Security
Pension / IRA
Estate Tax
Inheritance Tax
Capital Gains
Long-term gains at 5%; short-term at 8.5%
Housing & Cost of Living
Cost of Living Index
National avg = 100
Median Home Price
Median Rent (2BR)
Home Insurance
Flood Insurance
Homestead Exemption
Home equity protected from creditors
Asset Protection
Crime & Safety
Violent Crime Rate
Near national avg
Property Crime Rate
Below national avg (~2,100)
Traffic Fatality Rate
Among the safest
Healthcare
State Healthcare Rank
Top tier
Life Expectancy
Above national avg (76.4)
Medicaid Expansion
Uninsured Rate
Well below national avg
Education
K-12 Quality Rank
Top 10 nationally
School Choice / Vouchers
Childcare
Avg Infant Care (Full-Time)
Very expensive (national avg ~$1,200)
Utilities & Daily Costs
Avg Monthly Energy Bill
Avg Monthly Groceries
2-person household, moderate spending
Road Quality Rank
Airports & Travel
Nonstop Destinations
From state's primary airport
Major Hub Airport
Top-25 US airport by passengers
Culture & Lifestyle
Urban Population
Highly urban — big city feel
Restaurant Density
Religious Congregations
Pro Sports Teams
NFL + NBA + MLB + NHL + MLS
Major Venues
Stadiums, arenas, amphitheaters (10K+ capacity)
Craft Breweries
3.8/100K residents — Solid scene
Craft Distilleries
Strong spirits scene
Live Music
Boston music heritage (Aerosmith, Pixies, Dropkick Murphys); Boston Calling; Tremont Street Crawl
Transportation
Car Insurance (Avg Annual)
Traffic Fatality Rate
Broadband Access
Social & Legal
Abortion Access
Legal to viability; strong state law
LGBTQ+ Protections
Marijuana
Minimum Wage
Right to Work
Sports Betting
Casino Gambling
Online Gambling
State Lottery
MGM Springfield, Encore Boston Harbor. Sports betting launched 2023. Very active lottery (one of highest per-capita revenues).
Age of Consent
Sex Education
No state sex ed mandate
Medically Accurate Required
Nude Beaches & Naturist Clubs
Sandy Terraces (Hanson) · Berkshire Vista (Hancock)
Environment & Climate
Air Quality (Annual AQI)
Near national avg
Natural Disaster Risk
Primary Hazards
Politics & Gun Laws
2024 Presidential Vote
Gun Laws
Carry Permit
Purchase Permit Required
Gambling
Jobs & Economy
Job Market
+1.4% job growth · 3.7% unemployment
Top Industries
Tech Jobs
Top tech job market nationally
Healthcare Jobs
Top healthcare job market
Remote Work
High remote work culture
Median Household Income
Daily Life
Gas Price (Regular)
Near avg (+0.04 vs national avg)
Consumer Fireworks
All consumer fireworks banned statewide — sparklers included
Weather & Natural Risks
Winter Severity
Avg January high: 36°F
Summer Heat
Moderate summers
Annual Rainfall
Tornado Risk
Hurricane Risk
Wildfire Risk
Flood Risk
Veteran Benefits
Veteran-Friendly Score
6.5% of state population are veterans
Property Tax Exemption
Partial exemption for service-connected disability
Military Retirement Pay
Active Duty Pay
VA Facilities Access
Notable Benefits
Explore Massachusetts counties
Income, housing, poverty, healthcare — ranked by county
See your full cost of living in Massachusetts
Housing, taxes, childcare, insurance — all estimated.
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Get notified when Massachusetts tax laws, gun laws, or social policy changes.
Data is informational only. Verify with a tax professional, real estate agent, and local sources before making relocation decisions. Crime data: FBI UCR ~2022. Healthcare: Commonwealth Fund / US News ~2023. Education: Education Week ~2023. Housing: Zillow / Census ACS ~2024. Insurance: rate surveys ~2024. Sponsored links marked “Sponsored” may earn a commission. This does not affect our data or rankings.