The city of Boston is filled with culture, history, art, entertainment, shopping, and dining, but the one thing it’s not is cheap. That’s why we looked at housing affordability and cost of living to find out the best cheap places to live near Boston. If you’re a home buyer on a budget, you’ll definitely want to check out these 11 affordable suburbs that made the cut.
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Danvers kicks off our list with plenty of affordable housing near Boston. The average renter in Danvers spends only 26.5 percent of her income on housing, while home buyers will find affordable townhouses. Residents can grab fresh local produce at the weekly Danvers Rotary Farmers’ Market, enjoy outdoor recreation along the scenic Crane River or at well-maintained city parks, and check out a new book at the gorgeous Peabody Institute Library.
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The scenic suburb of Saugus has as many affordable housing options as it does gorgeous green space. Home buyers will find affordable townhouses and cottages in this Boston suburb. Enjoy a day of fishing, swimming, or hiking through gorgeous nature preserves at Breakheart Reservation and Lynn Woods, or check out a new book at the Saugus Public Library. Convenient shopping from big name retailers is available at Square One Mall.
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Home buyers searching for affordable housing near Boston will find cheap rental properties and inexpensive townhouses in the lively and scenic suburb of Wakefield. Enjoy free live jazz music on Main Street at the summer music series Plaza Jazz, join a book club at the Lucius Beebe Memorial Library, or enjoy a day on the water at Lake Quannapowitt or Crystal Lake Park.
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The lively little city of Salem earns the number four spot on our list. Home buyers searching in this historic Oceanside town will find affordable townhouses in charming late 1800s buildings. A bustling tourism industry translates to plenty of local amenities and a strong economy for residents. Enjoy live music at the Salem Jazz and Soul Festival, view the work of established artists at the Peabody Essex Museum, or stroll through historic downtown Salem and browse the local shops, restaurants, and galleries.
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The bustling historic city of Woburn makes our list at number five. Townhouses in turn of the century buildings are a common affordable housing option in this Boston suburb. Woburn is filled with beautifully maintained city parks, including the Horn Pond Recreation Area where residents can hike, bike, boat, and fish. The Woburn Public Library offers events and book clubs for readers of all ages.
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The friendly, scenic town of Dedham is tied for sixth on our list of affordable Boston suburbs, with relatively cheap historic houses and townhomes for home buyers. Convenient shopping is available at the Dedham Mall. Outdoor recreation enthusiasts will love fishing and swimming at the Wigwam Pond Area, or hiking through the nearby urban forest, Stony Brook Reservation.
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The peaceful Boston suburb of Melrose is tied for sixth on our list, with plenty of cheap rental properties. Home buyers on a budget will find affordable townhouses in historic buildings and condos in large modern buildings. Grab fresh local produce at Sally Frank’s Farmers’ Market, check out a print or digital book at the well run Melrose Public Library, or enjoy local talent and browse vendors at the annual Melrose Arts Festival. Nature lovers will enjoy the nearby Middlesex Fells Reservation, a 2,575-acre park with hiking and biking trails and a pond.
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The coastal town of Beverly has a range of affordable housing near Boston, including townhomes in charming craftsman and Cape Cod style buildings. This charming town has a thriving downtown filled with local businesses and regular community events and festivals. Outdoor recreation enthusiasts will love Beverly’s well-maintained city parks and beaches. Residents can also join a book club at the Beverly Public Library or grab local produce and get to know their neighbors at the Beverly Farmers Market.
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Lynn earns the ninth place spot on our list with a nod from local Movoto real estate agent Laura Abbene who said, “Lynn is highly desirable for many first time buyers who are priced out of other areas.” Home buyers in this scenic coastal town will find affordable starter homes and charming townhouses in turn of the century buildings. Spend a day at the beach on the Nahant Bay, or hike and mountain bike through Lynn Woods, a scenic local park with a view of Boston. Residents also enjoy local events and courses at the Lynn Public Library, and rotating exhibitions at the Lynn Museum.
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The scenic college town of Medford, home to Tufts University, is tied for 10th on our list of affordable Boston suburbs. Affordable cottage-style starter homes and townhomes in historic buildings are common in Medford. Outdoor recreation enthusiasts have plenty of options to explore. Cool off on Upper Mystic Lake or the Wright’s Park pond, bike along the water at the Mystic River Reservation, or hike through the nearby Middlesex Fells Reservation. The Medford Public Library carries new releases and hosts community events.
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Peabody rounds out our list as the second suburb tied for 10th. Condos in contemporary buildings and townhouses in converted turn of the century buildings are common in this Boston suburb. The Northshore Mall provides convenient shopping at big name retailers to residents, while the Brooksby Farm is the perfect spot for a stroll and fruit picking. Check out a book at the Peabody Library, or enjoy a day of ice skating at the James McVann-Louis O’Keefe Memorial Skating Rink.
To create this list, we researched Boston’s suburbs in terms of the following budget friendly criteria:
We then ranked each Boston suburb in the above categories, and then averaged those scores into one overall score. The suburbs with the lowest overall score made up our top 11. This list used data sourced from the U.S. Census and AreaVibes. To see how other places we ranked measured up, check out the table below. 
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