Best Neighborhoods for Retirees in Boston, MA
4 neighborhoods ranked by safety, quiet living, air quality, affordability, and walkability — the factors that matter most for a comfortable retirement.
Best Neighborhoods for Retirees in Boston — Key Takeaways
The best neighborhood for retirees in Boston is Beacon Hill with a Retiree Score of 65/100. Boston has 4 neighborhoods evaluated for retirement livability. The safest neighborhood is Beacon Hill with a violent crime rate of 3.3 per 1,000 residents, 11% below the national average. Best air quality goes to Beacon Hill with an AQI of 52.
Boston has a population of 675,647, a median household income of $76,298, and a median home value of $620,000, which is 120% above the national average of $281,900.
Data sourced from the US Census Bureau, FBI Crime Data Explorer, EPA AirNow, DOT Noise Map, Walk Score, and FEMA. Last updated: March 2026.
Top 3 Neighborhoods for Retirees
| # | Neighborhood | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beacon Hill | 65 | ||
| Back Bay | 65 | ||
| South End Boston | 64 | ||
4 | Cambridge | 64 |
Rankings by Category
Top 5 neighborhoods in Boston for each retiree-relevant metric.
Lowest violent crime rate
- 3.3 per 1K
- 3.3 per 1K
- 3.3 per 1K
- 3.3 per 1K
Lowest Air Quality Index
- AQI 52
- AQI 52
- AQI 52
- AQI 52
Lowest median home value
- $785,000
- $825,000
- $985,000
- $1,050,000
Highest Walk Score
- 100/100
- 99/100
- 97/100
- 94/100
Lowest property crime rate
- 11.5 per 1K
- 11.5 per 1K
- 11.5 per 1K
- 11.5 per 1K
Highest median household income
- $186,477
- $143,077
- $94,306
- $24,728
Neighborhoods are ranked using the Retiree Score, a composite livability index specifically designed for retirees. It prioritizes the factors that matter most for a comfortable, safe, and healthy retirement:
- Safety (Violent Crime)
- 25% weight
- Quiet Living (Road Noise)
- 20% weight
- Air Quality (AQI)
- 20% weight
- Affordability (Home Value)
- 20% weight
- Walkability (Walk Score)
- 15% weight
Safety is weighted highest because personal security is the top concern for retirees. Quiet living and air quality reflect the importance of a healthy, peaceful environment. Affordability matters for those on fixed incomes, and walkability supports an active lifestyle without reliance on driving.
Data Sources: US Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR), EPA AirNow, DOT National Transportation Noise Map, Walk Score, and FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer. All data is updated on a rolling basis as new government releases become available.