The Best Assisted Living Facilities in Boston, MA for 2023

Boston, the capital of Massachusetts, is the most populated city in the state. The city is home to an estimated 675,647 people, including 78,000 seniors aged 65 and over. With retiree-friendly tax policies and great public transportation, Boston is a good retirement location for seniors who enjoy living in a bustling metropolis with ample amenities and events right on their doorstep.

Assisted living facilities are communities that support seniors with daily tasks such as bathing, housekeeping and medication management. Assisted living is suited to seniors who are not in need of 24/7 medical care but who require some extra daily assistance. In Boston, the average price of assisted living is $6,819 per month, which is slightly higher than the state average of $6,500.

This guide provides an overview of assisted living in Boston. To find out about average monthly care costs, the benefits and drawbacks of retiring in Boston and to learn about free local resources, read on.

Boston-area assisted living facilities are overseen by the Division of Health Care Facility Licensure and Certification. This agency is responsible for licensing assisted living facilities in the state, and it carries out unannounced inspections and checks to make sure that all facilities are compliant with the state rules and regulations. 

• Crime rates in Boston are relatively high and considerably higher than the national average. Violent crime rates in Boston are significantly higher than the state average at 6.48 cases per 1,000 residents compared to 3.03 per 1,000 residents for the state. Property crime rates are also higher than the Massachusetts average. However compared to other communities with a similar population, Boston’s crime rate is markedly lower than average, making it safer than most cities of a comparable size. 
• Boston has a continental climate with large contrasts between seasons. The city enjoys hot sunny summers but has cold snowy winters. In summer, temperatures can reach 100 °F, and in winter they can get down to 0 °F, but spring and fall are pleasant.
• The cost of living in Boston is high, ranked in the top 1% of the most expensive cities in the world. Living costs are 48% higher than the national average, with utilities 41% higher and transportation 11% higher. However, Boston can still be an affordable place for seniors to live with the help of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, which offers services for seniors to assist with living costs. 
• Boston boasts excellent health care facilities. Massachusetts General Hospital has been ranked the best hospital in the United States and the second best in the world. Other high-quality hospitals and medical centers in the city include Boston Medical Center.
• Massachusetts is relatively tax-friendly for seniors. Although private pensions are usually taxable, government pensions are exempt. The state also fully exempts Social Security retirement benefits. Estate tax has an exemption of $1 million, which is one of the lowest in the United States. These tax policies help seniors enjoy a higher quality of life and keep more of their life earnings. 

Assisted living in Boston costs an average of $6,819 per month, according to Genworth’s Cost of Care Survey. The median cost of assisted living in Massachusetts is $6,500, and the national average is $4,500 per month.

With an average monthly cost of $6,819, Boston is one of the most expensive cities for assisted living in Massachusetts. The only city that is more expensive is Barnstable Town which costs $7,000 per month. The nearby city of Worcester is significantly cheaper than Boston at $5,685 and the cheapest city in the state for assisted living is Pittsfield, where the average monthly cost is only $2,084.

Many other long-term care options are available to seniors in Boston. At $1,614, adult day health care is the cheapest option and significantly more affordable than assisted living, making it a good choice for seniors who only require assistance during the week. For seniors who prefer to stay living at home, home health aide care is available for an average rate of $6,244 per month, and homemaker services are available for an average of $6,292 per month. Seniors who require a higher level of care may choose nursing homes, where a private room typically costs $14,402 per month and a semiprivate room costs $13,155.

While many families use their own funds or personal assets to pay for assisted living, there are plenty of additional options to cover these costs. Some additional ways to finance assisted living costs include:

• Veterans Benefits
• Life Insurance Policy
• Long-Term Care Insurance
• Reverse Mortgage

For more information about different ways to finance assisted living, visit our Assisted Living in Massachusetts page.