Best Cities for Remote Workers in Massachusetts
What Remote Workers Should Know About Massachusetts
Massachusetts ranks #41 out of 50 for remote workers β 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 108, Massachusetts is above average β remote workers from lower-cost areas won't see a purchasing power advantage.
The high work-from-home rate of 14.6% suggests an established remote work culture with coworking spaces and digital infrastructure already in place. Broadband coverage is excellent at 98.7%, so reliable internet shouldn't be a concern.
Taxes are moderate at 9.57% of income β not a major draw but not a dealbreaker. Housing affordability (score: 26/100) is a concern β the median home costs $615,000, which may require a strong remote salary to afford comfortably.
All 20 Cities Ranked for Remote Workers
| # | City | Grade | Remote Workers Score | Overall | Affordability | Economy | Outdoor Access | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newton | A+ | 61.7 | 74.7 | 28 | 89 | 32 | 88,415 |
| 2 | Somerville | A+ | 56.2 | 67.7 | 28 | 80 | 32 | 80,407 |
| 3 | Waltham | A+ | 55.6 | 65.2 | 35 | 73 | 32 | 64,723 |
| 4 | Brookline | A+ | 55.4 | 69.5 | 21 | 71 | 32 | 62,822 |
| 5 | Cambridge | A+ | 55.4 | 67.3 | 25 | 84 | 32 | 118,208 |
| 6 | Framingham | A | 53.7 | 61.4 | 42 | 69 | 32 | 71,866 |
| 7 | Revere | B+ | 52.3 | 57.5 | 42 | 55 | 32 | 59,933 |
| 8 | Quincy | A | 52.2 | 61.2 | 41 | 62 | 32 | 101,607 |
| 9 | Malden | B+ | 51.8 | 58.5 | 40 | 61 | 32 | 65,136 |
| 10 | Taunton | B | 50.5 | 53.2 | 57 | 51 | 32 | 59,719 |
| 11 | Haverhill | B | 50.4 | 54.6 | 49 | 56 | 32 | 67,398 |
| 12 | Boston | B+ | 49.5 | 57.3 | 36 | 63 | 32 | 652,442 |
| 13 | Lynn | B | 48.7 | 53.6 | 44 | 50 | 32 | 101,250 |
| 14 | Lowell | B | 48.2 | 53.1 | 50 | 48 | 32 | 114,289 |
| 15 | Worcester | C+ | 47.1 | 50.9 | 55 | 49 | 32 | 207,629 |
| 16 | Brockton | C | 46.3 | 47.7 | 50 | 50 | 32 | 104,884 |
| 17 | Lawrence | C | 44.0 | 47.4 | 50 | 34 | 32 | 88,174 |
| 18 | New Bedford | C | 42.1 | 45.4 | 53 | 32 | 32 | 100,683 |
| 19 | Fall River | D | 40.3 | 41.8 | 52 | 34 | 32 | 93,864 |
| 20 | Springfield | D | 39.4 | 40.7 | 62 | 26 | 32 | 153,672 |