D

Boston, GA

Source:

Affordability Score: 46/100

Population: 3,463 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Boston, GA aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 3,463 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of D (46/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $52,026, median home value of $200,000, median rent of $861 per month, and 14.7% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. These four metrics alone explain most of the variance between city dashboards.

Cross-agency feeds widen the picture beyond Census demographics. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in this county at $1,149 per month (studio $1,001, 1BR $1,048, 3BR $1,456, 4BR $1,521). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $5,642 per year, consuming 11% of the local median household income.

Reading the overall grade requires reading all seven dimensions together. The score weights Income 20%, Safety 20%, Housing 15%, Rent 15%, Education 10%, Commute 10%, and Childcare 10%, with each sub-score benchmarked against national percentiles rather than state averages — so the grade is genuinely comparable across any city in the country. Pressure points are income, education. Unemployment currently reads 1.9% and poverty 18.8% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income F
$52,026
Median household income
Education F
14.7%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing D
3.8x
Home value $200,000 vs income
Commute N/A
N/A
Average commute time
Rent C+
$1,149/mo
2BR fair market rent (27% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare B
$5,642/yr
Center-based infant care (11% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$52,026
▼ 16% vs national
Per Capita Income
$30,988
Unemployment Rate
1.9%
Poverty Rate
18.8%

Housing

Median Home Value
$200,000
▼ 27% vs national
Median Rent
$861/mo
Owner Occupied
63.7%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,149/mo
▼ 4% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$1,001
1BR
$1,048
2BR
$1,149
3BR
$1,456
4BR
$1,521

Safety

Violent Crime Rate
Data Source
FBI UCR (county-level)

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
14.7%
▼ 15 ppt vs national
High School+
55.6%
Median Age
48.4
Avg. Commute

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$5,642/yr
11% of income
Toddler (Center)
$5,304/yr
Preschool (Center)
$5,304/yr
School-Age (Center)
$2,860/yr

What This Means

Boston, GA receives an overall affordability grade of D (46/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 3,463. Challenges include income and education. Data was unavailable for commute, safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

Explore Boston ZIP Codes
View all 1 ZIP codes with demographics and individual scorecards
View ZIPs →

What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Boston, GA affordable?
Boston, GA receives an overall affordability grade of D (46/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $52,026. Median home value is $200,000.
What is the cost of living in Boston?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $861/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,149/mo. Infant childcare $5,642/yr. Median home value $200,000.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The score evaluates 7 dimensions weighted by importance: Income (20%), Safety (20%), Housing (15%), Rent (15%), Education (10%), Commute (10%), and Childcare (10%). Each metric is compared against national percentile benchmarks from Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data.

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report. Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Verify with HUD →