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Cost & Benefits

Most affordable towns in Massachusetts, 2026

Longmeadow is the most affordable ranked town in Massachusetts. Rent, the regional price level, taxes, and electricity are 22.5% each. Gasoline is 10%. A lower score is more affordable.

Summary

123
Towns ranked in Massachusetts.
Longmeadow
Number 1 in Massachusetts. Rent is 13.5% of income. National rank 3170.
21.0%
Median rent share among ranked towns in Massachusetts.
0
Ranked Massachusetts towns in the national top 100.
Chelsea
Least affordable ranked town in Massachusetts. Rent is 32.5% of income. National rank 6267.

Gasoline

$4.439

per gallon. EIA publishes this state price for the week of October 12, 2026. At 12,000 miles a year and 25 mpg, that is $2,130.72 a year for every ranked town in Massachusetts.

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Cost & Benefits. "2026 Most Affordable Towns Index: Massachusetts." October 16, 2026. https://costandbenefits.com/reports/most-affordable-towns-2026/massachusetts

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Benefits and taxes in Massachusetts

Top 25

  1. #1 in Massachusetts · National #3170

    Longmeadow

    Rent share 13.5% · Price level 96.1 · Score 0.453

    Median rent is $1,682 a month and median income is $149,601, so rent is 13.5% of income, under the 21.0% median for ranked towns in Massachusetts. The Springfield, MA metro price level is 96.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 30.49 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.439 a gallon (Massachusetts). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  2. #2 in Massachusetts · National #3496

    Westfield

    Rent share 15.3% · Price level 96.1 · Score 0.477

    Median rent is $1,117 a month and median income is $87,753, so rent is 15.3% of income, under the 21.0% median for ranked towns in Massachusetts. The Springfield, MA metro price level is 96.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 30.49 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.439 a gallon (Massachusetts). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  3. #3 in Massachusetts · National #3613

    Palmer Town

    Rent share 16.4% · Price level 96.1 · Score 0.486

    Median rent is $1,075 a month and median income is $78,480, so rent is 16.4% of income, under the 21.0% median for ranked towns in Massachusetts. The Springfield, MA metro price level is 96.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 30.49 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.439 a gallon (Massachusetts). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  4. #4 in Massachusetts · National #3906

    Agawam Town

    Rent share 17.6% · Price level 96.1 · Score 0.512

    Median rent is $1,256 a month and median income is $85,421, so rent is 17.6% of income, under the 21.0% median for ranked towns in Massachusetts. The Springfield, MA metro price level is 96.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 30.49 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.439 a gallon (Massachusetts). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  5. #5 in Massachusetts · National #3934

    Williamstown

    Rent share 17.5% · Price level 95.1 · Score 0.514

    Median rent is $1,424 a month and median income is $97,917, so rent is 17.5% of income, under the 21.0% median for ranked towns in Massachusetts. The Pittsfield, MA metro price level is 95.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 30.49 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.439 a gallon (Massachusetts). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  6. #6 in Massachusetts · National #3994

    Somerset

    Rent share 13.5% · Price level 101.8 · Score 0.518

    Median rent is $1,271 a month and median income is $112,677, so rent is 13.5% of income, under the 21.0% median for ranked towns in Massachusetts. The Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro price level is 101.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 30.49 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.439 a gallon (Massachusetts). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  7. #7 in Massachusetts · National #4029

    Northborough

    Rent share 10.2% · Price level 102.5 · Score 0.521

    Median rent is $1,135 a month and median income is $133,839, so rent is 10.2% of income, under the 21.0% median for ranked towns in Massachusetts. The Worcester, MA metro price level is 102.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 30.49 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.439 a gallon (Massachusetts). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  8. #8 in Massachusetts · National #4124

    Pittsfield

    Rent share 19.3% · Price level 95.1 · Score 0.530

    Median rent is $1,134 a month and median income is $70,582, so rent is 19.3% of income, under the 21.0% median for ranked towns in Massachusetts. The Pittsfield, MA metro price level is 95.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 30.49 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.439 a gallon (Massachusetts). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  9. #9 in Massachusetts · National #4301

    Whitinsville

    Rent share 14.9% · Price level 102.5 · Score 0.547

    Median rent is $1,197 a month and median income is $96,145, so rent is 14.9% of income, under the 21.0% median for ranked towns in Massachusetts. The Worcester, MA metro price level is 102.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 30.49 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.439 a gallon (Massachusetts). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  10. #10 in Massachusetts · National #4308

    Oxford

    Rent share 16.1% · Price level 102.5 · Score 0.548

    Median rent is $1,203 a month and median income is $89,623, so rent is 16.1% of income, under the 21.0% median for ranked towns in Massachusetts. The Worcester, MA metro price level is 102.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 30.49 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.439 a gallon (Massachusetts). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  11. #11 in Massachusetts · National #4337

    North Adams

    Rent share 20.0% · Price level 95.1 · Score 0.549

    Median rent is $793 a month and median income is $47,500, so rent is 20.0% of income, under the 21.0% median for ranked towns in Massachusetts. The Pittsfield, MA metro price level is 95.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 30.49 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.439 a gallon (Massachusetts). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  12. #12 in Massachusetts · National #4372

    North Attleborough Town

    Rent share 16.1% · Price level 101.8 · Score 0.552

    Median rent is $1,509 a month and median income is $112,665, so rent is 16.1% of income, under the 21.0% median for ranked towns in Massachusetts. The Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro price level is 101.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 30.49 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.439 a gallon (Massachusetts). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  13. #13 in Massachusetts · National #4446

    Medfield

    Rent share 11.0% · Price level 108.3 · Score 0.558

    Median rent is $2,014 a month and median income is $218,946, so rent is 11.0% of income, under the 21.0% median for ranked towns in Massachusetts. The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro price level is 108.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 30.49 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.439 a gallon (Massachusetts). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  14. #14 in Massachusetts · National #4514

    Holbrook

    Rent share 11.4% · Price level 108.3 · Score 0.562

    Median rent is $1,094 a month and median income is $115,210, so rent is 11.4% of income, under the 21.0% median for ranked towns in Massachusetts. The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro price level is 108.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 30.49 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.439 a gallon (Massachusetts). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  15. #15 in Massachusetts · National #4545

    West Springfield Town

    Rent share 19.8% · Price level 96.1 · Score 0.565

    Median rent is $1,144 a month and median income is $69,371, so rent is 19.8% of income, under the 21.0% median for ranked towns in Massachusetts. The Springfield, MA metro price level is 96.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 30.49 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.439 a gallon (Massachusetts). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  16. #16 in Massachusetts · National #4570

    Kingston

    Rent share 12.7% · Price level 108.3 · Score 0.566

    Median rent is $1,603 a month and median income is $150,886, so rent is 12.7% of income, under the 21.0% median for ranked towns in Massachusetts. The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro price level is 108.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 30.49 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.439 a gallon (Massachusetts). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  17. #17 in Massachusetts · National #4627

    Marblehead

    Rent share 11.6% · Price level 105.8 · Score 0.570

    Median rent is $1,764 a month and median income is $182,132, so rent is 11.6% of income, under the 21.0% median for ranked towns in Massachusetts. The Massachusetts state price level is 105.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 30.49 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.439 a gallon (Massachusetts). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  18. #18 in Massachusetts · National #4654

    Cochituate

    Rent share 9.9% · Price level 108.3 · Score 0.572

    Median rent is $1,582 a month and median income is $192,361, so rent is 9.9% of income, under the 21.0% median for ranked towns in Massachusetts. The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro price level is 108.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 30.49 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.439 a gallon (Massachusetts). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  19. #19 in Massachusetts · National #4679

    Milton

    Rent share 9.4% · Price level 108.3 · Score 0.573

    Median rent is $1,474 a month and median income is $188,529, so rent is 9.4% of income, under the 21.0% median for ranked towns in Massachusetts. The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro price level is 108.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 30.49 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.439 a gallon (Massachusetts). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  20. #20 in Massachusetts · National #4760

    Winchester

    Rent share 11.9% · Price level 108.3 · Score 0.580

    Median rent is $2,279 a month and median income is $230,198, so rent is 11.9% of income, under the 21.0% median for ranked towns in Massachusetts. The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro price level is 108.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 30.49 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.439 a gallon (Massachusetts). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  21. #21 in Massachusetts · National #4767

    Hingham

    Rent share 7.0% · Price level 108.3 · Score 0.581

    Median rent is $1,202 a month and median income is $205,769, so rent is 7.0% of income, under the 21.0% median for ranked towns in Massachusetts. The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro price level is 108.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 30.49 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.439 a gallon (Massachusetts). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  22. #22 in Massachusetts · National #4775

    Scituate

    Rent share 8.5% · Price level 108.3 · Score 0.581

    Median rent is $884 a month and median income is $124,549, so rent is 8.5% of income, under the 21.0% median for ranked towns in Massachusetts. The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro price level is 108.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 30.49 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.439 a gallon (Massachusetts). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  23. #23 in Massachusetts · National #4863

    Needham

    Rent share 13.5% · Price level 108.3 · Score 0.589

    Median rent is $2,409 a month and median income is $214,308, so rent is 13.5% of income, under the 21.0% median for ranked towns in Massachusetts. The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro price level is 108.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 30.49 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.439 a gallon (Massachusetts). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  24. #24 in Massachusetts · National #4865

    Reading

    Rent share 14.4% · Price level 108.3 · Score 0.589

    Median rent is $1,991 a month and median income is $165,912, so rent is 14.4% of income, under the 21.0% median for ranked towns in Massachusetts. The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro price level is 108.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 30.49 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.439 a gallon (Massachusetts). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  25. #25 in Massachusetts · National #4889

    North Scituate

    Rent share 13.6% · Price level 108.3 · Score 0.591

    Median rent is $1,595 a month and median income is $140,329, so rent is 13.6% of income, under the 21.0% median for ranked towns in Massachusetts. The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro price level is 108.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 30.49 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.439 a gallon (Massachusetts). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

Least affordable 10

  1. #123 in Massachusetts · National #6267

    Chelsea

    Rent share 32.5% · Price level 108.3 · Score 0.797

    Median rent is $1,956 a month and median income is $72,179, so rent is 32.5% of income, over the 21.0% median for ranked towns in Massachusetts. The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro price level is 108.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 30.49 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.439 a gallon (Massachusetts). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  2. #122 in Massachusetts · National #6264

    Lawrence

    Rent share 33.0% · Price level 108.3 · Score 0.797

    Median rent is $1,662 a month and median income is $60,433, so rent is 33.0% of income, over the 21.0% median for ranked towns in Massachusetts. The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro price level is 108.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 30.49 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.439 a gallon (Massachusetts). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  3. #121 in Massachusetts · National #6245

    Everett

    Rent share 29.2% · Price level 108.3 · Score 0.791

    Median rent is $2,076 a month and median income is $85,218, so rent is 29.2% of income, over the 21.0% median for ranked towns in Massachusetts. The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro price level is 108.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 30.49 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.439 a gallon (Massachusetts). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  4. #120 in Massachusetts · National #6224

    Revere

    Rent share 28.6% · Price level 108.3 · Score 0.788

    Median rent is $2,076 a month and median income is $86,969, so rent is 28.6% of income, over the 21.0% median for ranked towns in Massachusetts. The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro price level is 108.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 30.49 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.439 a gallon (Massachusetts). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  5. #119 in Massachusetts · National #6183

    Lynn

    Rent share 27.5% · Price level 108.3 · Score 0.781

    Median rent is $1,722 a month and median income is $75,043, so rent is 27.5% of income, over the 21.0% median for ranked towns in Massachusetts. The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro price level is 108.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 30.49 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.439 a gallon (Massachusetts). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  6. #118 in Massachusetts · National #6167

    The Pinehills

    Rent share 27.5% · Price level 108.3 · Score 0.779

    Median rent is $2,819 a month and median income is $122,798, so rent is 27.5% of income, over the 21.0% median for ranked towns in Massachusetts. The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro price level is 108.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 30.49 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.439 a gallon (Massachusetts). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  7. #117 in Massachusetts · National #6165

    Boston

    Rent share 26.5% · Price level 108.3 · Score 0.778

    Median rent is $2,147 a month and median income is $97,344, so rent is 26.5% of income, over the 21.0% median for ranked towns in Massachusetts. The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro price level is 108.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 30.49 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.439 a gallon (Massachusetts). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  8. #116 in Massachusetts · National #6141

    Cambridge

    Rent share 25.6% · Price level 108.3 · Score 0.774

    Median rent is $2,787 a month and median income is $130,748, so rent is 25.6% of income, over the 21.0% median for ranked towns in Massachusetts. The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro price level is 108.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 30.49 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.439 a gallon (Massachusetts). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  9. #115 in Massachusetts · National #6135

    Malden

    Rent share 26.3% · Price level 108.3 · Score 0.773

    Median rent is $2,204 a month and median income is $100,606, so rent is 26.3% of income, over the 21.0% median for ranked towns in Massachusetts. The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro price level is 108.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 30.49 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.439 a gallon (Massachusetts). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  10. #114 in Massachusetts · National #6134

    Saugus

    Rent share 26.5% · Price level 108.3 · Score 0.772

    Median rent is $2,241 a month and median income is $101,539, so rent is 26.5% of income, over the 21.0% median for ranked towns in Massachusetts. The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro price level is 108.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 30.49 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.439 a gallon (Massachusetts). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

The formula

A lower score is more affordable. Rent share, the regional price level, taxes, and electricity each count 22.5%. Gasoline counts 10%. Those weights are our choice. Gasoline stays at 10% because the miles figure is one national standard, not a measured town commute. This is not a government standard.

A percentile is the share of ranked towns with a strictly lower number, divided by the number of ranked towns minus one. The lowest number scores 0. Tied numbers share a percentile.

  1. Rent share = (median monthly rent × 12) / median household income. Both figures are the Census 2020–2024 medians for that place.
  2. RPP-adjusted cost is the BEA 2024 all-items regional price parity. A basket priced at 100 for the U.S. average costs this many dollars in the town's area. We use the metro index when the county is in a metro BEA publishes. Otherwise we use the state index and say so. This index includes housing, so housing also shows up in the rent share.
  3. Tax burden is the average of three percentiles. Income-tax share is state income tax plus the stored 2023 local AGI add-on, divided by the town's median household income, on a joint return. Property share is the state's median effective property-tax rate times the town's median home value, divided by income. Sales rate is the combined state and average local sales-tax rate. We do not turn the sales rate into dollars, because that would require a shopping basket we do not have.
  4. Electricity is the state residential price in cents per kilowatt-hour. Every town in a state shares it. We do not guess how many kilowatt-hours a home uses.
  5. Gasoline is the EIA retail price for all grades and all formulations, in dollars per gallon. Where EIA publishes a state series, we use that state. Every other state uses the PADD region EIA assigns to it. Census does not publish commuting miles for these towns, so annual gas spend is 12,000 miles a year divided by 25 miles per gallon, times the price. That is 480 gallons, the same for every town. Those miles are our standard, not an ACS figure and not a government mileage rule. Because the gallons do not change, the gas percentile is the percentile of the price.

    Weekly prices are for the week of October 12, 2026, from the EIA workbook released October 14, 2026. File: https://www.eia.gov/petroleum/gasdiesel/xls/pswrgvwall.xls. Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, and Oregon use West Coast (PADD 5) Except California. That series is not in the weekly workbook, so those five use the monthly price dated September 15, 2026. File: https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_pri_gnd_a_epm0_pte_dpgal_m.htm.

    • State series, week of October 12, 2026: California, Colorado, Florida, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Texas, Washington.
    • Central Atlantic (PADD 1B), week of October 12, 2026: Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania.
    • Gulf Coast (PADD 3), week of October 12, 2026: Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico.
    • Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C), week of October 12, 2026: Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia.
    • Midwest (PADD 2), week of October 12, 2026: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Wisconsin.
    • New England (PADD 1A), week of October 12, 2026: Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont.
    • Rocky Mountain (PADD 4), week of October 12, 2026: Idaho, Montana, Utah, Wyoming.
    • West Coast (PADD 5) Except California, September 15, 2026: Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon.

Score = 0.225 × rent percentile + 0.225 × price-level percentile + 0.225 × tax score + 0.225 × electricity percentile + 0.10 × gasoline percentile. Rank 1 is the lowest score. If scores tie, the lower rent share wins, then the lower price level, then the place slug in A-to-Z order.

Questions

What is the most affordable town in Massachusetts in this index?

Longmeadow is number 1 of 123 ranked towns in Massachusetts. Median rent is 13.5% of median income. Its national rank is 3170.

How many towns in Massachusetts were ranked?

123 towns in Massachusetts have at least 5,000 people and published Census rent, income, and home value. Places missing one of those figures are left out.

Does this ranking approve benefits in Massachusetts?

No. Cost & Benefits does not approve or deny benefits. The score is a cost comparison only.