| Index | Milton | Massachusetts | National |
| Cost of living | 167 | 131 | 100 |
| Groceries | 111 | 109 | 100 |
| Health care | 114 | 116 | 100 |
| Housing | 286 | 169 | 100 |
| Transportation | 114 | 115 | 100 |
| Utilities | 122 | 117 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 116 | 115 | 100 |
| Household Items | 109 | 109 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 128 | 127 | 100 |

Knowing the cost of living in Milton allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Milton stands at 167, marking it 67% higher than the national average.
If you're in pursuit of an economical living environment, Milton may not fit the bill, as it ranks among the most expensive places to reside in the United States. Just a minority of regions exhibit a cost of living that is more than 20% higher than the national average, and, unfortunately, Milton falls within this bracket.
Housing costs are a major factor in the Milton cost of living index, and they often eat up a big chunk of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, housing expenses for both homeownership and rentals were 186.2% higher than what's typical in an average city. That includes the prices of homes and rents, as well as mortgage rates and insurance.
The relentless increase in grocery prices is a noteworthy trend. In the last two years, grocery costs have experienced an upward trajectory of over 10%. Unfortunately, Milton is no exception, where grocery prices are 11.1% above the national average.
Is Milton an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Milton, the median home price is 252.3% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 31.9% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Milton come in at $207,275, which is 154.8% higher than the national average.
Utilities: Much like any other costs, utility expenses can exhibit considerable variations, influenced by factors such as climate, available energy sources, geographic location and state regulations. The costs associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can vary significantly depending on the city or state in question. In Milton, the utilities index stands at 22.3% higher than the national average.
Taxes: Regions that impose higher taxes, including sales and income taxes, can contribute to an increased cost of living. Higher taxes for everyday necessities such as clothing, utilities and food inevitably leads to higher expenditures. Additionally, a higher income tax rate can also play a role in elevating the overall cost of living. In Milton, the prevailing sales tax rate starts at 6.25%, and income tax rates kick off at 5%.
Urbanization: Larger, urban centers, known for their wealth of amenities and strong employment prospects, often exhibit an elevated cost of living, primarily attributable to the heightened demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this scenario leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural areas or regions characterized by diminished demand typically provide a more limited array of amenities and experience slower job market growth, resulting in a more affordable cost of living.
The Milton cost of living data displayed above uses a U.S. average baseline of 100 to provide a practical way to compare living expenses across cities. Housing estimates incorporate U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other values are generated using AI-assisted models based on everyday expense expectations, regional pricing trends, climate, transportation patterns, and local economic conditions. These values are designed for directional city-to-city comparisons.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $254,258 | $21,188 | $5,932 | $7,629 |
| Renters | $63,188 | $5,266 | $1,474 | $1,896 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Massachusetts | 6.25% | 6.25% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Massachusetts | 5% | 9% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Southfield, MA | 0 | 115 | 14.6% |
| Randolph, MA | 34,560 | 123 | 23.3% |
| Brockton, MA | 98,714 | 126 | 25.9% |
| Holbrook, MA | 11,361 | 128 | 28.4% |
| Foxborough, MA | 6,242 | 136 | 36.0% |
| Milton, MA | 28,525 | 167 | 66.8% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Kirkwood, MO | 28,511 | 117 | 16.6% |
| Lafayette, CO | 28,546 | 143 | 42.8% |
| Oxford, MS | 28,503 | 107 | 7.1% |
| Converse, TX | 28,554 | 101 | 0.5% |
| Big Spring, TX | 28,488 | 88 | 12.3% |
| Milton, MA | 28,525 | 167 | 66.8% |