Boston vs Winthrop
marks the Massachusetts median on each scale. The better of the two is picked out where the gap is big enough to call; where neither is, they are level.
Winthrop is the unusual case: it has both the stronger schools and the lower price, by about $300k on a 4BR. Unless the commute or the feel of the place decides it for you, Winthrop is the straightforward pick.
Boston is about 26 minutes closer to downtown Boston at peak, and it has MBTA rail while Winthrop does not. Over a decade of commuting that gap is worth more than most people price it at.
On tax, look past the rate: Winthrop works out roughly $4,800 a year cheaper on its own median 4BR.
Choose Boston if the commute matters most, or you want a train.
All Boston numbers →Choose Winthrop if you want the stronger schools of the two, or you want the lower price.
All Winthrop numbers →Side by side
Some rows have no better. Town character describes a place rather than ranking it, and per-pupil spending tracks need rather than results, so neither is picked out.
SchoolsWinthrop ahead on 6 of 10, 1 against
| Boston | Winthrop | |
|---|---|---|
| School tier | mixed schoolsT4 | solid schoolsT3 |
| MCAS achievement | 22nd | 51st |
| Student growth | 50th | 56th |
| Graduation rate | 81.3% | 91.2% |
| Niche district rank | 125th of 236 | 117th of 236 |
| SchoolDigger rank | 295th of 361 | 229th of 361 |
| State accountability | Moderate progress toward targets | Moderate progress toward targets |
| Spending per pupil | $33,854 | $19,308 |
| Schools in the district | 78 | 3 |
| Private schools within 12 mi | 59 | 47 |
What a home costsWinthrop ahead on 8 of 8
| Boston | Winthrop | |
|---|---|---|
| 4BR house | $1.15MT3 | $850kT2 |
| 3BR townhouse | $900k | $650k |
| 2BR condo | $665k | $480k |
| 3BR home | $828k | $733k |
| 5+ BR home | $1.11M | $938k |
| 3BR rent | $4,483/mo | $3,327/mo |
| Income needed for the 4BR | $308k | $226k |
| 10-year price growth | 3.5% a year | 6% a year |
What you pay the townWinthrop ahead on 2 of 4
| Boston | Winthrop | |
|---|---|---|
| Tax rate | $12.40T2 | $11.14T2 |
| Est. tax bill on that 4BR | ≈$14,300 | ≈$9,500 |
| Town spending per resident | $7,070 | $3,250 |
| Share of budget on schools | 30% | 45% |
Getting to workBoston ahead on 3 of 3
| Boston | Winthrop | |
|---|---|---|
| Commute to Boston | 8 minT1 | 34 minT2 |
| MBTA rail | Rapid transit (T) · downtown is here | No MBTA rail |
| Miles from downtown | 0 mi | 4 mi |
Before kindergartenBoston ahead on 3 of 4
| Boston | Winthrop | |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed child care programs | 221 | 21 |
| Child care places | 5,853 | 569 |
| Centers vs family programs | 79 centers | 8 centers |
| Infant places in centers | 1572 | 83 |
What the place is likeDescribes the two, does not rank them
| Boston | Winthrop | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 675,647 | 19,316 |
| Energy | 10/10 | 7/10 |
| Compact center | 10/10 | 8/10 |
| Family amenities | 6/10 | 7/10 |
| Culture | 10/10 | 7/10 |
| Gathering places | 10/10 | 8/10 |
The tax bill is each town’s own rate on its own median 4BR, so a lower rate does not always mean a lower bill. School tiers are editorial, shown beside the state’s own MCAS figures rather than derived from them.
Prices calibrated to Zillow ZHVI and Redfin · FY2026 residential tax rates · rail leg from the MBTA timetable, drive modeled · rents are HUD FY2027 Small Area FMRs · reviewed · methodology. Never uses demographics as an input.
