$225,287/yr
is the income needed to buy the typical $733,574 home in Boston, MA at today's 6.95% rate — about $5,257/mo. The local median household ($112,484) falls $112,803 short.
The math (shown)
733,574 price − 10% down (73,357) = 660,217 loan
30-yr fixed at 6.95% on 660,217 = 4,370/mo principal+interest
+ 886/mo est. taxes+insurance (1.45%/yr of value — national placeholder)
5,257/mo PITI ÷ 0.28 = 18,774/mo → 225,287/yr required
against Zillow ZHVI 2026-08 (Zillow ZHVI (typical home value, smoothed, all-homes 33–67pct tier)) and the 6.95% FRED 30-yr rate (2026-09-17). Local median income: $112,484 (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year, median household income (table B19013)).
Can I afford Boston, MA on my salary?
Your salary:
Rent vs own here
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FAQ
How much do I need to make to live in Boston, MA?
To buy the typical home, about $225,287/yr. Renting needs less; this page sizes the buy.
What home value is this based on?
Zillow's ZHVI typical-home-value for the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro (2026-08): $733,574.
Is the mortgage rate current?
Yes — 6.95% from FRED's weekly 30-year fixed average (2026-09-17).
Glossary
ZHVI
Zillow Home Value Index — the typical home value for a region (35th–65th percentile, smoothed, seasonally adjusted).
Front-end DTI
Housing payment as a share of gross income; lenders commonly cap it near 28%.
PITI
Principal, Interest, Taxes, and Insurance — the full monthly housing cost.