Economy, jobs and prices in Boston, Massachusetts: official figures
The median household income in Boston was $97,344 a year in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey (in 2024 dollars), 251st highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US median was $80,734 and the Massachusetts median $103,960.
What is the per capita income in Boston?
Income per resident (per capita income) in Boston averaged $61,698 a year in 2020-2024, 100th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $44,673; Massachusetts: $57,897).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow unequal are incomes in Boston?
Boston's Gini index of household income inequality was 0.531 in 2020-2024 (0 means equal incomes, 1 maximum inequality), 30th most unequal of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US figure was 0.483.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Boston, Massachusetts?
6.1% of the civilian labor force in Boston was unemployed on average over 2020-2024 (24,547 people), 250th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US rate in the same survey was 5.2% and Massachusetts' 5.2%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Boston have jobs?
377,807 residents of Boston held civilian jobs, 65.6% of those aged 16 and over (US: 59.7%), and 489 served in the armed forces.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat are the main industries in Boston?
The largest industry group for working residents of Boston was education, health care and social assistance (31.6% of employed residents), followed by professional, scientific, management and administrative services (19.6%) and finance, insurance and real estate (9.0%), 2020-2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Boston work in manufacturing?
Manufacturing employed 5.3% of working residents of Boston, 103rd lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 9.9%); professional, scientific and management services employed 19.6% (US: 12.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow long is the commute in Boston, Massachusetts?
Commuters in Boston took 30.3 minutes on average to get to work in 2020-2024, 140th longest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 26.4 minutes); 10.8% travelled an hour or more and 14.9% less than 15 minutes.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow do people in Boston get to work?
21.3% of workers living in Boston worked from home in 2020-2024, 173rd highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 15.1%). 32.9% drove to work alone, 5.2% carpooled, 22.6% used public transport and 13.4% walked.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the average rent in Boston, Massachusetts?
The median gross rent (rent plus utilities) in Boston was $2,147 a month in 2020-2024, 120th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $1,413; Massachusetts: $1,762).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does a house cost in Boston?
Owner-occupied homes in Boston had a median value of $731,700 in 2020-2024 as estimated by their owners, 112th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $332,700; Massachusetts: $562,100).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow affordable are homes in Boston?
The median home value in Boston was 7.5 times the median household income, 98th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 4.1 times).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many households in Boston have no internet?
5.7% of households in Boston (16,065) had no internet access at home in 2020-2024, 320th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.5%); 9.4% relied on a cellular data plan alone (US: 11.5%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Boston compares with other cities in the United States
Median household income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)
Boston ranks 251 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Median household income (2024 dollars) |
|---|---|---|
| 248 | Jurupa Valley | $97,550 |
| 249 | Schaumburg | $97,514 |
| 250 | Antioch | $97,465 |
| 251 | Boston | $97,344 |
| 252 | North Richland Hills | $97,305 |
| 253 | Whittier | $97,201 |
| 254 | Hendersonville | $97,200 |
Per capita income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)
Boston ranks 100 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Per capita income (2024 dollars) |
|---|---|---|
| 97 | Grapevine | $61,797 |
| 98 | Franklin | $61,761 |
| 99 | Oakland | $61,757 |
| 100 | Boston | $61,698 |
| 101 | Bowie | $61,564 |
| 102 | Norwalk | $61,397 |
| 103 | Westfield | $61,257 |
Gini index of household income inequality (2020-2024)
Boston ranks 30 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Gini index of household income inequality |
|---|---|---|
| 27 | Delray Beach | 0.535 |
| 28 | Gainesville | 0.533 |
| 29 | San Luis Obispo | 0.532 |
| 30 | Boston | 0.531 |
| 31 | New Rochelle | 0.529 |
| 32 | Edina | 0.529 |
| 33 | Lake Charles | 0.527 |
Unemployment rate (share of civilian labor force) (2020-2024)
Boston ranks 250 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Unemployment rate (share of civilian labor force) |
|---|---|---|
| 247 | Elgin | 6.1% |
| 248 | San Bernardino | 6.1% |
| 249 | Casa Grande | 6.1% |
| 250 | Boston | 6.1% |
| 251 | San Francisco | 6.1% |
| 252 | Tulsa | 6.1% |
| 253 | Racine | 6.1% |
Labor force participation rate (16 and over) (2020-2024)
Boston ranks 156 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Labor force participation rate (16 and over) |
|---|---|---|
| 153 | St. Paul | 70.0% |
| 154 | Beaverton | 70.0% |
| 155 | West New York | 70.0% |
| 156 | Boston | 70.0% |
| 157 | Millcreek | 69.9% |
| 158 | Flower Mound | 69.9% |
| 159 | Eau Claire | 69.9% |
Mean travel time to work (minutes) (2020-2024)
Boston ranks 140 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Mean travel time to work (minutes) |
|---|---|---|
| 137 | Pembroke Pines | 30.4 |
| 138 | Fremont | 30.3 |
| 139 | Pico Rivera | 30.3 |
| 140 | Boston | 30.3 |
| 141 | Lynwood | 30.3 |
| 142 | Alhambra | 30.3 |
| 143 | Surprise | 30.2 |
Workers who worked from home (2020-2024)
Boston ranks 173 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Workers who worked from home |
|---|---|---|
| 170 | Westfield | 21.4% |
| 171 | Collierville | 21.4% |
| 172 | Shawnee | 21.4% |
| 173 | Boston | 21.3% |
| 174 | Glendale | 21.2% |
| 175 | San Diego | 21.2% |
| 176 | Elk Grove | 21.2% |
Workers commuting by public transportation (2020-2024)
Boston ranks 8 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Workers commuting by public transportation |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Jersey City | 36.1% |
| 6 | Mount Vernon | 25.8% |
| 7 | Yonkers | 23.1% |
| 8 | Boston | 22.6% |
| 9 | Revere | 21.8% |
| 10 | East Orange | 20.3% |
| 11 | Washington | 20.3% |
Employed residents working in manufacturing (2020-2024)
Boston ranks 721 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Employed residents working in manufacturing |
|---|---|---|
| 718 | Lubbock | 5.3% |
| 719 | Midwest City | 5.3% |
| 720 | Jacksonville | 5.3% |
| 721 | Boston | 5.3% |
| 722 | Stonecrest | 5.3% |
| 723 | Hempstead | 5.3% |
| 724 | Wilmington | 5.3% |
Employed residents in education, health care and social assistance (2020-2024)
Boston ranks 45 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Employed residents in education, health care and social assistance |
|---|---|---|
| 42 | Yonkers | 32.1% |
| 43 | Brownsville | 31.7% |
| 44 | Harlingen | 31.7% |
| 45 | Boston | 31.6% |
| 46 | Madison | 31.6% |
| 47 | Baltimore | 31.6% |
| 48 | Eugene | 31.5% |
Median gross rent per month (2020-2024)
Boston ranks 120 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Median gross rent per month |
|---|---|---|
| 117 | Mount Pleasant | $2,159 |
| 118 | Santa Rosa | $2,152 |
| 119 | Centennial | $2,148 |
| 120 | Boston | $2,147 |
| 121 | Roseville | $2,142 |
| 122 | Sunrise | $2,140 |
| 123 | Moreno Valley | $2,135 |
Median value of owner-occupied homes (2020-2024)
Boston ranks 112 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Median value of owner-occupied homes |
|---|---|---|
| 109 | Upland | $739,400 |
| 110 | Washington | $737,100 |
| 111 | Alexandria | $735,100 |
| 112 | Boston | $731,700 |
| 113 | Santee | $727,200 |
| 114 | Boca Raton | $722,700 |
| 115 | Bend | $718,400 |
Median home value as a multiple of median household income (2020-2024)
Boston ranks 95 of 820, highest first.
| Rank | City | Median home value as a multiple of median household income |
|---|---|---|
| 92 | Seattle | 7.6x |
| 93 | Hayward | 7.5x |
| 94 | Baldwin Park | 7.5x |
| 95 | Boston | 7.5x |
| 96 | Pomona | 7.5x |
| 97 | Bend | 7.5x |
| 98 | Mission Viejo | 7.4x |
Occupied homes lived in by their owners (2020-2024)
Boston ranks 794 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Occupied homes lived in by their owners |
|---|---|---|
| 791 | Inglewood | 36.2% |
| 792 | Bayonne | 36.2% |
| 793 | Los Angeles | 36.0% |
| 794 | Boston | 35.7% |
| 795 | Perth Amboy | 35.4% |
| 796 | College Station | 35.4% |
| 797 | Fall River | 35.3% |
Households with a broadband subscription (2020-2024)
Boston ranks 460 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households with a broadband subscription |
|---|---|---|
| 457 | Manhattan | 92.1% |
| 458 | Modesto | 92.1% |
| 459 | Kissimmee | 92.0% |
| 460 | Boston | 92.0% |
| 461 | Oklahoma City | 92.0% |
| 462 | Abilene | 92.0% |
| 463 | Lodi | 92.0% |
Households with no internet access (2020-2024)
Boston ranks 320 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households with no internet access |
|---|---|---|
| 317 | Cheyenne | 5.7% |
| 318 | Sarasota | 5.7% |
| 319 | Inglewood | 5.7% |
| 320 | Boston | 5.7% |
| 321 | Lebanon | 5.7% |
| 322 | Tinley Park | 5.7% |
| 323 | Jersey City | 5.6% |
More on Boston: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · all cities in the United States
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B08013: Aggregate Travel Time to Work (in Minutes) of Workers by Sex (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 6939fdfa046fd5bb829ec8da9549e66298cc740f6a3f5dd60e1920a08e3083fb), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5f94e7878b6a…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B23025: Employment Status for the Population 16 Years and Over (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 264a5bd9367c5f58d9773fa4966fa94fe1e02f9c7106bc2ab39168d6de7c3e4a), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 2630e6946370…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B19083: Gini Index of Income Inequality (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 338f7a1191eaaf3913913e78c36aaa9d82f2b5c8faaf889be2e597b28869205e), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b8cf854b1f94…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table C24030: Sex by Industry for the Civilian Employed Population 16 Years and Over (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 66a2799a71a5fc36f0e3bc22767fe5bdd8f96eb29e85b91311e990d35cc14114), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5d717c57e7e4…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B19013: Median Household Income in the Past 12 Months (in 2024 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars) (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 b25a176b0e6c339b6f3a2a0d3d8446bf06f5f080b4395993ec9a8313efb1c229), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1d8a264807c6…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B08301: Means of Transportation to Work (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 552b24c135b6e7c566910914a861cda6fc798ba0cd47801b1eb64295a128c2ee), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 eaf823006d53…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B19301: Per Capita Income in the Past 12 Months (in 2024 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars) (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 9fc107e98fee7fa49bb8314560205569184fad65fb64b80adb5c5bdd83ccc409), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 24c1e725b26a…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25064: Median Gross Rent (Dollars) (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 b36e6dc1fcef36b8b307d31b37517b64c80d8b9c70d48c9b1894242860f42eb0), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b842a7ff825c…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25077: Median Value (Dollars) (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 89eb2153764a2330b23959d8bbc29b3a8f3016f087b990f2a8ea0d5096d9a816), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 22b59a3b1acb…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B28002: Presence and Types of Internet Subscriptions in Household (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 12446ff0691b8818f5908cdc398817361772c5b3078c506d0409adc9c841840b), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4b375b368bf9…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25003: Tenure (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 68e963e1ed60fcf6b0658579cefc6498b7a9eb780b9f3e87fd1b9775c4d4ac6c), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 2983c28f47fa…)
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