Cost of Living in Suffolk County, Massachusetts
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Suffolk County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Suffolk County ranks #3,114 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 1%)
Sourced county brief
Suffolk County Median Monthly Gross Rent Recorded at $2,129
The median monthly gross rent in Suffolk County was estimated at $2,129 according to the 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates. This monthly rate is $513 above the Massachusetts unweighted county mean of $1,616. The official ACS B25071 GRAPI, representing the median gross rent as a percentage of household income for renters, was 31.0%. This figure is 0.7 percentage points lower than the state unweighted county mean for official GRAPI of 31.7%. Median renter-household income in the county was $69,876, while the median income for all households was $95,631. Among homeowners, the median home value was reported at $705,800, which is $71,543 higher than the state unweighted county mean home value of $634,257. Median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units were $2,425, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $2,087. These metrics provide a statistical overview of the county's housing landscape for the 2020-2024 period. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Suffolk County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 31.0% of renter household income in Suffolk County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $2,129 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $2,425. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $85,160 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Massachusetts unweighted mean of county median rents is $1,616 per month. Suffolk County's $2,129 median is 31.8% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Suffolk County
Rent Burden
26.7%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$2,231
per month
Owner Cost Burden
30.4%
of gross income
The median home in Suffolk County may be a stretch
Median home value is $705,800. Estimated monthly cost: $5,635 vs. your max of $2,231.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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