What is the cost of living in Milton, MA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Milton has an overall cost of living index of 168, which is 1.7x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Massachusetts, Milton has a cost of living index that's 1.3x higher than Massachusetts's index of 130.
The standard of living in Milton ranks as #93 most affordable out of the 113 places we measured in Massachusetts. By definition, that implies Milton ranks as the #20 most expensive place in the Bay State.
For more reading on life in Milton, check out:
Milton Cost Of Living Vs. Massachusetts
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Milton. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Milton is 110.
The Groceries index in Milton is 114.
The Health index in Milton is 287.
The Housing index in Milton is 113.
The Transportation index in Milton is 120.
The Utilities index in Milton is 115.
| Living Expense | Milton | Massachusetts | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 168 | 130 | 100 |
| Services | 110 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 114 | 115 | 100 |
| Health | 287 | 168 | 100 |
| Housing | 113 | 117 | 100 |
| Transportation | 120 | 115 | 100 |
| Utilities | 115 | 114 | 100 |
Milton Cost Of Living Compared To Massachusetts Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Massachusetts, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In Massachusetts
- Most Affordable Cities In Massachusetts
- Average Rent In Massachusetts
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Milton, MA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Massachusetts, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Milton is $1,073,619.
The Median Rent in Milton is $1,474.
The Median Income in Milton is $188,529.
The Home Value To Income in Milton is 5.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Milton is 0.09x.
| Statistic | Milton | Massachusetts | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,073,619 | $656,690 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,474 | $1,762 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $188,529 | $103,960 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.7x | 6.3x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.09x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Milton, MA Costs By Category
Detailed Milton Services costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Milton | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.49 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $15.49 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $29.33 | $18 |
| Haircut | $43.72 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $65.56 | $45.56 |
Detailed Milton Groceries costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Milton | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.48 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.45 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.76 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.99 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.52 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.21 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.53 | $3.7 |
Detailed Milton Health costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Milton | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $123.17 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $157.89 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $149.22 | $113.29 |
Detailed Milton Transportation costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Milton | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.43 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $97.39 | $59.92 |
Detailed Milton Utilities costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Milton | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $302.72 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.85 | $192.25 |
Milton SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Milton
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Milton. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Boston, MA has a cost of living index of 171, 1.0x Milton.
Quincy, MA has a cost of living index of 149, 0.9x Milton.
Newton, MA has a cost of living index of 205, 1.2x Milton.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Milton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston, MA | 666,442 | 171 | 1.0x |
| Quincy, MA | 102,114 | 149 | 0.9x |
| Newton, MA | 89,044 | 205 | 1.2x |
| Brookline, MA | 63,266 | 221 | 1.3x |
| Arlington, MA | 46,350 | 173 | 1.0x |
| Lexington, MA | 34,295 | 209 | 1.2x |
| Needham, MA | 32,459 | 203 | 1.2x |
| Norwood, MA | 31,542 | 150 | 0.9x |
| Wellesley, MA | 30,347 | 239 | 1.4x |
| Belmont, MA | 27,175 | 203 | 1.2x |
