B+

Boston, NY

Source:

Affordability Score: 79/100

Population: 3,039 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Boston, NY aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 3,039 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of B+ (79/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $115,188, median home value of $267,200, median rent of $1,250 per month, and 43.1% 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 $1,343 per month (studio $1,105, 1BR $1,139, 3BR $1,640, 4BR $1,869). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $15,028 per year, consuming 13% 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. Strengths visible in the raw data for Boston, NY include income, education, housing, rent. Unemployment currently reads 3.4% and poverty 5.2% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income A
$115,188
Median household income
Education B+
43.1%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing A-
2.3x
Home value $267,200 vs income
Commute C
24 min
Average commute time
Rent A+
$1,343/mo
2BR fair market rent (14% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare C
$15,028/yr
Center-based infant care (13% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$115,188
▲ 86% vs national
Per Capita Income
$59,838
Unemployment Rate
3.4%
Poverty Rate
5.2%

Housing

Median Home Value
$267,200
▼ 3% vs national
Median Rent
$1,250/mo
Owner Occupied
88.3%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,343/mo
▲ 12% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$1,105
1BR
$1,139
2BR
$1,343
3BR
$1,640
4BR
$1,869

Safety

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

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
43.1%
▲ 13 ppt vs national
High School+
79.5%
Median Age
50.9
Avg. Commute
24 min
▼ 2 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$15,028/yr
13% of income
Toddler (Center)
$14,300/yr
Preschool (Center)
$13,260/yr
School-Age (Center)
$11,180/yr

What This Means

Boston, NY receives an overall affordability grade of B+ (79/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 3,039. This area performs well in income and education and housing and rent. Data was unavailable for 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, NY affordable?
Boston, NY receives an overall affordability grade of B+ (79/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $115,188. Median home value is $267,200.
What is the cost of living in Boston?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $1,250/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,343/mo. Infant childcare $15,028/yr. Median home value $267,200.
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 →