Boston is a city of innovation, history, and people who will fight you over the correct way to pronounce “Faneuil.” It’s also a city where rent prices seem to have been set by people who believe money grows on trees. If you want to live in a brownstone in Back Bay without roommates, you’ll need to either invent an app or discover a long-lost pirate treasure. But don’t panic—there’s hope. Just beyond the city limits, a handful of suburbs offer affordability, charm, and, most importantly, the ability to pay rent without selling a kidney. Here’s a look at ten of the most affordable Boston suburbs for renters in 2025.
Boston’s housing market at a glance
Boston is a great place to live—if you enjoy historic landmarks, world-class universities, and paying $3,000 a month to share an apartment with four strangers and a very bold family of mice. As rent prices continue to climb, many Bostonians are considering a radical new strategy: leaving. But don’t worry, you don’t have to go far! Just outside the city, a handful of suburbs offer more affordable alternatives, plus the added bonus of fewer tourists asking where the Freedom Trail starts. Before we dive into the most affordable Boston suburbs, here’s a quick look at what it costs to live in Boston today.
| Average 1-bedroom rent in Boston | $3,817 |
| Average 2-bedroom rent in Boston | $4,664 |
| Median home price in Boston | $898,000 |
1. Worcester
Worcester is what happens when a city gets tired of being in Boston’s shadow and decides to build its own thing.
- Average 1-bedroom rent: $1,800
- Distance from Boston: 47 miles west
- Drive time to Boston: About 60 minutes
With an average rent of $1,800, Worcester is the most affordable option on the list—and it’s got plenty to offer beyond low prices. The Worcester Art Museum houses a collection spanning 5,000 years, meaning you can impress your friends by pretending you understand Renaissance paintings. The EcoTarium, a science and nature museum, lets you interact with exhibits without worrying about knocking over something priceless. And if you like music, Mechanics Hall is a historic concert venue with acoustics so good that even someone with the worst seat in the house will still think they’re front row.
2. Lowell
Lowell is the city that reminds you how much America used to love making textiles.
- Average 1-bedroom rent: $1,920
- Distance from Boston: 30 miles northwest
- Drive time to Boston: About 35 minutes
At $1,920 on average for a 1-bedroom, Lowell offers a mix of affordability and rich history. The Lowell National Historical Park takes you back to the days of textile mills and industrial revolution ingenuity. The Boott Cotton Mills Museum offers an up-close look at the machines that powered the city’s economy, minus the deafening noise of an actual working factory. And if history isn’t your thing, the Lowell Folk Festival brings music, food, and a strong chance of running into someone who insists their great-great-grandfather worked in one of the mills.
3. Roslindale
Roslindale is the kind of neighborhood where people actually greet their neighbors instead of avoiding eye contact.
- Average 1-bedroom rent: $2,314
- Distance from Boston: 6 miles southwest
- Drive time to Boston: About 15 minutes
With an average rent of $2,314, Roslindale is a hidden gem for those looking for affordability close to the city. Roslindale Village is packed with local shops, a farmers market, and cafés where people pretend to be writing novels. The Arnold Arboretum spills over into Roslindale, offering acres of green space for walking, jogging, or having a quick moment of reflection under a tree.
4. Allston
Allston is what happens when college students, musicians, and artists all move into the same neighborhood and no one ever leaves.
- Average 1-bedroom rent: $2,350
- Distance from Boston: 4 miles west
- Drive time to Boston: About 10 minutes
At $2,350, Allston remains one of the more affordable close-in options, especially if you enjoy an active nightlife. Harvard Avenue is packed with dive bars, noodle shops, and people who definitely should have gone home hours ago. Brighton Music Hall hosts concerts of all types from indie bands to acts that will one day be too famous to play there. And if you like street fairs, the Allston Village Street Fair is an annual event that celebrates the neighborhood’s unique mix of cultures, creativity, and people who still owe you money from last week’s bar tab.
5. Jamaica Plain
Jamaica Plain is where artists, young professionals, and dog owners come together in perfect harmony.
- Average 1-bedroom rent: $2,479
- Distance from Boston: 5 miles southwest
- Drive time to Boston: About 15 minutes
At $2,479, Jamaica Plain isn’t the cheapest option, but it makes up for it with personality. Jamaica Pond is the perfect place for kayaking, picnicking, or staring into the water while contemplating your life choices. And Centre Street is lined with shops and restaurants that specialize in things like “farm-to-table” and “locally sourced,” which loosely translates to “slightly more expensive but worth it.”
6. Quincy
Quincy is like Boston’s little brother that grew up and got a nice apartment by the water.
- Average 1-bedroom rent: $2,600
- Distance from Boston: 10 miles south
- Drive time to Boston: About 20 minutes
At $2,600 on average for a 1-bedroom, Quincy is a main dish that comes with a side of historical prestige. Adams National Historical Park lets you tour the homes of John Adams and John Quincy Adams, two former presidents who would be horrified by modern-day Twitter. Marina Bay offers waterfront dining with scenic views that make you briefly forget you still have work emails to answer. And the Quincy Quarry and Granite Workers Museum highlights the city’s lesser-known but still impressive granite industry past.
7. Dorchester
Dorchester is where history meets affordability meets people who actually know what a good lobster roll tastes like.
- Average 1-bedroom rent: $2,600
- Distance from Boston: 4 miles south
- Drive time to Boston: About 10 minutes
At $2,600, Dorchester gives you access to some of Boston’s best. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum lets you dive into the life of one of America’s most iconic presidents. Franklin Park, Boston’s largest park, provides everything from golf courses to a zoo, so you can switch up your weekend plans without leaving the neighborhood. And if you just want to relax by the water, Dorchester Shores Reservation has beaches where you can pretend you’re on the Cape—until reality sets in.
8. Brighton
Brighton is where you live when you want to say you live “in Boston” but still appreciate the concept of street parking.
- Average 1-bedroom rent: $2,800
- Distance from Boston: 5 miles west
- Drive time to Boston: About 15 minutes
With an average rent of $2,800, Brighton isn’t exactly cheap, but it’s still a deal compared to living downtown. Brighton Center serves as the neighborhood’s bustling core, filled with bars, coffee shops, and restaurants that somehow always have a line. The Chestnut Hill Reservoir provides a scenic walking loop for runners, dog walkers, and people in need of a little time under the shining Massachusetts sun.
9. Somerville
Somerville is what happens when artists, academics, and people who brew their own kombucha all move to the same place.
- Average 1-bedroom rent: $2,800
- Distance from Boston: 4 miles north
- Drive time to Boston: About 10 minutes
At $2,890, Somerville offers a slightly cheaper alternative to downtown Boston, plus a social scene that rivals anywhere in the city. Davis Square is packed with entertainment options, from live music venues to dive bars filled with grad students discussing things you pretend to understand. Assembly Row, a massive shopping and dining complex, provides everything from outlet stores to a movie theater where you can escape the reality of paying rent. And if you enjoy looking at bad decisions, the Museum of Bad Art is here to remind you that, no matter how expensive your apartment is, at least you didn’t spend your life savings painting something that looks like a potato with feelings.
10. Brookline
Brookline is basically Boston, but with better parking and fewer tourists asking for directions.
- Average 1-bedroom rent: $2,912
- Distance from Boston: 4 miles west
- Drive time to Boston: About 10 minutes
At $2,912, Brookline is not one of the most affordable Boston suburbs on this list, but it’s also one of the most desirable. Coolidge Corner is a lively district filled with independent bookstores, cafés, and people who have very strong opinions about bagels. The John F. Kennedy National Historic Site offers a look at the early life of the 35th president—back when he was just a kid. And Larz Anderson Park provides plenty of green space along with an auto museum, because nothing says “historic charm” like vintage cars.
Find the best affordable Boston suburb for you
The most affordable Boston suburbs offer a little bit of everything—whether it’s the music-fueled energy of Allston, the historic charm of Quincy, or the affordability of Worcester. If you want to live near the city without going broke, these towns provide a range of options for different budgets and lifestyles. The hardest part? Figuring out which one feels like home (and finding a place before someone else snatches it up).
Affordability is based on whether a suburb’s one-bedroom rent was less than Boston’s average rent and under 50 miles from downtown Boston. Average rental data from Boston rental market trends in February, 2025. Population data sourced from the United States Census Bureau.
