Boston is expensive. Yes it's true, it's very true. But does it really take $300,000 in salary to live in Boston comfortably? A new study says yes... but there's a little more to it than just that. Let's dive in.

The report from SmartAsset (awesome name, huh? lol) looked at 99 of America's largest cities. SmartAsset (I just wanted to type that name again) says they attained their salary numbers by following a "50/30/20" budget. That method allocates 50% of pre-tax take-home pay for needs like housing, health insurance, transportation and groceries, 30% for wants like vacation and dining out, and 20% set aside for savings and paying debt.

The data shows that in order to comfortably live in Boston, a family of four - two adults and two children - would need to make a $319,738 combined salary. This makes Boston one of only six cities where families need to make over $300,000 salary to live in Boston comfortably and raise kids. The other 5 cities are San Francisco, California; San Jose, California; Arlington, Virginia; New York, New York and Oakland, California.

Great question. The study shows that a single person would have to make a $124,966 salary to live in Boston comfortably. When I was a kid it was always my goal to be rich and make $100,000 a year. That number has honestly stuck in my head my whole life. Well now you can make a nice $100,000 salary.... just to struggle to survive in Boston!

If you're wondering which city is the most affordable, the report points to Houston, Texas. To live comfortably in Houston a single person needs to make just over $75,000 a year.

Nowhere in Massachusetts is what I'd call "cheap" or even "really affordable" BUT... you can save some money by moving out to the suburbs. And if you have kids (or are looking at having some in the future) settling in a town with a great school district might be very important to you. If so, I present to you the following data:

Look, it shouldn't matter. Massachusetts has long been regarded as one of, if not THE best state in the country when it comes to education public or otherwise. So no matter where you live in the Bay State your kids are likely getting one of the best educations our tax dollars can buy. But it does matter to a lot of parents. We fear that one day our kids due to a lack of education will be taken to the hospital after getting their hand mangled at the mangle factory and use their one good finger to point at us and say with a trembling voice "THIS IS YOUR FAULT! WHY COULDN'T WE HAVE LIVED IN HOPKINTON! INSTEAD WE LIVED IN BELCHERTOWN!!!!" (Nothing against Belchertown, but your name is too funny to not use).

Education obviously is a huge priority for the state of Massachusetts. The best and oldest college in the country, Harvard, was established here. The state is in the top 10 for states that spend the most on education. And even though I'm just a simple Country Radio DJ I still get hurtful texts and phone calls from people because of the one time I used the term "vicariously" incorrectly. So a list of the best school districts in Massachusetts seems like a no-brainer.

I decided to make the definitive list of the best school districts in Massachusetts. Yes, you can easily find this by going to Niche.com and seeing their rankings. Or going to the yearly US News and World Report listing. But that wasn't good enough for me. I combined the two lists and their rankings to make a much more accurate list.

Education is very important to me. I took mine for granted and while I love my life and feel I am near the ceiling of my success I also know that if I had taken my education more seriously I would have been able to shatter that ceiling like Willy Wonka and the Great Glass Elevator. What I'm trying to tell you with that analogy is that I read at a 4th grade level, and I want better for my kids. That's why we live in Lexington, even though I can barely afford it. Where does Lexington rank on the list of Best School Districts In Massachusetts, and is it worth it? READ ON TO FIND OUT!

The Public Schools of Brookline

USNWR Score: 214.5
Niche Score: 100
Combined: 314.5

Newton

US News And World Report Score: 221.9
Niche Score: 98
Combined: 319.9

Winchester

US News And World Report Score: 225.6
Niche Score: 97
Combined: 322.6
Rank: 9

Wayland

US News And World Report Score: 224.8
Niche Score: 98
Combined: 322.8
Rank: 8

Belmont

US News And World Report Score: 242.9
Niche Score: 98
Combined: 340.9
Rank: 7

Weston

US News And World Report Score: 242.5
Niche Score: 100
Combined: 342.5
Rank: 6

Hopkinton

US News And World Report Score: 243.6
Niche Score: 100
Combined: 343.6
Rank: 5

Wellesley Public Schools

US News And World Report Score: 245.6
Niche Score: 99
Combined: 344.6
Rank: 4

Lexington

US News And World Report Score: 252.6
Niche Score: 97
Combined: 349.6
Rank: 3

Harvard

US News And World Report Score: 261
Niche Score: 96
Combined: 357
Rank: 2

Dover-Sherborn

US News And World Report Score: 263.2
Niche Score: 99
Combined: 362.2
Rank: 1

Jonathan Wier grew up in St. Louis where he was obsessed with the voices that came out of the radio. He would listen for hours wondering what that person on the other side would say next.

After failing to find happiness in playing music or manual labor he decided to go to college for radio at WLCA in Godfrey Illinois. He then started working at 97.1 KFTK in St. Louis as a producer and on-air talent.

From there he has hosted shows in Gainesville Florida (News Talk WSKY 2011-2012), Kansas City (News Talk KMBZ 2012-2019) and now makes his home at Country 102.5 in Boston.

He lives in Lexington with his wife and two sons. When he’s not at work you can find him watching football, playing music with his kids or trying his best to make his wife not regret marrying a radio guy.