Boston - MA vs Providence - RI: 2026 Housing Comparison

What this means for buyers

Boston - MA is roughly 39% more expensive than Providence - RI in typical home value.

Boston vs Providence: what the numbers say

At today's 7.32% average 30-year rate with 20% down, the typical home would cost about $3,988 a month in principal and interest in Boston and $2,870 in Providence, a gap of $1,118 a month.

Typical rent runs $2,987 in Boston and $2,166 in Providence, so the mortgage payment alone is 1.3 times rent in Boston and 1.3 times rent in Providence, before taxes and insurance.

Home prices are 20.2 years of rent in Boston and 20.1 in Providence; the lower ratio in Providence means buying there is cheaper relative to renting.

Over the last 23 months typical values moved +3.0% in Boston and +5.8% in Providence; over just the last three months the change was +0.6% in Boston and +1.0% in Providence.

Homes sell for 101.3% of list price in Boston and 101.1% in Providence, after 14 and 14 days on the market, with price cuts on 24% and 25% of listings. All three signs point the same way: buyers have more room to negotiate in Providence.

The number of homes for sale is up 14% on a year ago in Boston and up 9% on a year ago in Providence.

Payments assume a 30-year fixed loan at the Freddie Mac weekly average rate (2026-10-22), 20% down, principal and interest only. Home values, rents and market figures are Zillow Research metro data.