Best Cities for Remote Workers in Massachusetts
Massachusetts ranks #42 of 50 for remote workers, with a remote workers score of 42.9. Brookline is its best city for remote workers at 68.5.
- Massachusetts, all states
- #42 of 50
- Population
- 63,266
What Remote Workers Should Know About Massachusetts
Massachusetts ranks #42 out of 50 for remote workers — a state where remote workers may face some headwinds. Remote work fundamentally changes the relocation calculus: when your salary comes from elsewhere, what matters is how far it stretches locally and how good daily life feels. With a cost-of-living index of 105.8, Massachusetts is above average — remote workers from lower-cost areas won't see a purchasing power advantage.
The high work-from-home rate of 14.8% suggests an established remote work culture with coworking spaces and digital infrastructure already in place. 94.4% of households have a broadband subscription, at or above the 50-state average, so home internet is widely adopted.
Taxes are moderate at 9.57% of income — not a major draw but not a dealbreaker. Housing affordability (score: 29/100) is a concern — the typical home is worth $661,896, which may require a strong remote salary to afford comfortably.
All 25 Cities Ranked for Remote Workers
| # City | Grade | Remote Workers score | Overall | Affordability | Economy | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Brookline | A+ | 68.5 | 79.5 | 21 | 87 | 63,266 |
| 2Newton | A+ | 68.4 | 78.3 | 26 | 85 | 89,044 |
| 3Medford | A+ | 64.4 | 71.9 | 31 | 76 | 59,354 |
| 4Somerville | A+ | 64.1 | 72.4 | 24 | 81 | 81,036 |
| 5Waltham | A+ | 62.6 | 69.3 | 34 | 72 | 64,902 |
| 6Cambridge | A+ | 61.2 | 70.4 | 21 | 79 | 118,796 |
| 7Methuen Town | A | 61.2 | 65.3 | 51 | 65 | 53,475 |
| 8Malden | A | 60.9 | 64.0 | 39 | 63 | 65,906 |
| 9Quincy | A | 60.8 | 66.1 | 41 | 62 | 102,114 |
| 10Weymouth Town | B+ | 59.7 | 62.2 | 46 | 62 | 58,505 |
| 11Framingham | A | 59.5 | 64.5 | 42 | 67 | 72,399 |
| 12Revere | B+ | 58.1 | 60.2 | 43 | 54 | 60,012 |
| 13Peabody | B+ | 57.1 | 61.6 | 44 | 60 | 54,695 |
| 14Taunton | B | 57.1 | 56.5 | 63 | 48 | 60,433 |
| 15Haverhill | B+ | 57.0 | 59.1 | 54 | 54 | 67,698 |
| 16Boston | B+ | 56.8 | 61.1 | 36 | 60 | 666,442 |
| 17Worcester | B | 55.9 | 56.0 | 63 | 47 | 207,055 |
| 18Lowell | B | 55.7 | 56.5 | 55 | 48 | 118,368 |
| 19Chicopee | C+ | 54.7 | 55.1 | 74 | 39 | 55,295 |
| 20Brockton | C | 54.3 | 52.3 | 55 | 46 | 105,386 |
| 21New Bedford | C+ | 54.2 | 52.5 | 68 | 31 | 100,998 |
| 22Lynn | C+ | 54.1 | 55.6 | 51 | 47 | 101,709 |
| 23Fall River | D | 51.8 | 48.2 | 66 | 31 | 94,082 |
| 24Lawrence | C | 51.6 | 52.1 | 55 | 32 | 88,736 |
| 25Springfield | D | 47.8 | 45.5 | 76 | 26 | 154,749 |
City remote workers scores use each city's own data, with the category weights rescaled over the categories the city has; outdoor access has no city-level measure and is left out.
Compare: States with Similar Remote Workers Rankings
Also See: Massachusetts for Other Lifestyles
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Massachusetts a good state for remote workers?
Massachusetts ranks #42 out of 50 for remote workers with a persona-weighted score of 42.9/100. Its strongest relevant category is Safety (76/100) and its weakest is Growth (19/100).
What is the best city for remote workers in Massachusetts?
Brookline ranks #1 in Massachusetts for remote workers with a score of 68.5/100, followed by Newton and Medford.
What factors are most important for remote workers in Massachusetts?
Rankings weighted toward affordable cost of living, strong economy, outdoor access, livability, low taxes, and safe communities — what remote workers prioritize when choosing where to live.