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Boston, MA

College town · College teaching jobs 2.0x the U.S. shareHealthcare and research hub · Healthcare and science jobs 1.6x the U.S. share

Concord is part of the Boston area. This page covers the whole metro.

Everyday life
Shops, cafes, and daily routines
Hobbies & activities
Trails, parks, and pastimes
Nearby scenery
Lakes, overlooks, and drives

Photos and reviews come from Google Maps and show single places, not the whole area. Reviews are the most relevant ones Google returns for each place. We show the longest highly rated review under 400 characters and, when there is one, the longest low-rated review. Google doesn't verify reviews but removes fake ones when it finds them.

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Where it is
Boston
Boston in Massachusetts
Massachusetts in the U.S.
State outlines: U.S. Census Bureau.

What's nearby

Within 5 miles of the center of the Boston area.

111
grocery stores
200+
restaurants
200+
coffee shops
200+
parks
200+
playgrounds
169
libraries
16
movie theaters
77
live theaters
66
museums
200+
bookstores
4
comic shops
125
gyms
200+
bars
69
pharmacies
28
hospitals

Counts from OpenStreetMap, a volunteer map, so small or new places can be missing. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

What rent costs

Of about 713,425 rented homes in the Boston area, 53% rent for under $2,000 a month and 85% for under $3,000.

Under $1,000: 18%
$1,000 to $1,499: 14%
$1,500 to $1,999: 21%
$2,000 to $2,499: 20%
$2,500 to $2,999: 12%
$3,000 or more: 15%

Census American Community Survey 2019 to 2023 (table B25063). Gross rent includes utilities the renter pays. Today's asking rents for open apartments usually run higher.

Public schools

55 public school districts in this county, with about 202,979 students in all. Which one serves a home depends on its address.

Lowell · Lowell
14,228 students · 12.1 students per teacher · 27 schools · grades Pre-K to 12
Newton · Newtonville
11,990 students · 11 students per teacher · 22 schools · grades Pre-K to 12
Framingham · Framingham
9,469 students · 12.8 students per teacher · 14 schools · grades Pre-K to 12
Everett · Everett
7,377 students · 12.2 students per teacher · 10 schools · grades Pre-K to 12
Lexington · Lexington
6,938 students · 11.1 students per teacher · 10 schools · grades Pre-K to 12

NCES Common Core of Data 2022-23, National Center for Education Statistics. Varro doesn't rate or rank schools. For test results and programs, see each district's site and your state's school report card.

The facts behind it
Typical home value
$733,574
What a typical home sells for across the Boston area.
Source: Zillow Home Value Index, August 2026
Cost of living
About 8% above the U.S. average
Everyday prices (rent, groceries, services) run about $108 here for what costs $100 nationally.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis price index 108.3 (U.S. = 100), 2024
Average commute
31 minutes one way
How long residents' trips to work take on average, counting every job and way of getting there. U.S. average: about 27 minutes.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
Homeowners insurance
About $1,483 a year
The statewide average for a typical policy in MA. Your own quote will depend on the home.
Source: Statewide estimate, 2026
Natural disaster risk
Relatively High
FEMA's overall rating for the county, covering floods, storms, wildfire, earthquakes and more.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Median household income
$126,779
Half of households in the county earn more than this, half earn less.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
Property tax
1.05% of home value a year
About $1,050 a year for every $100,000 of home value.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
State income tax
Graduated, up to 9%
MA's state income tax. Some cities and counties add their own.
Source: 2026

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