Boston, Massachusetts prices: $20,000 in 1950 $230,569.74 in 2018

Inflation in Massachusetts

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Prices in Boston, 1950-2018 ($20,000)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Boston, Massachusetts were 1,052.85% higher in 2018 versus 1950 (a $210,569.74 difference in value).

Between 1950 and 2018: Boston experienced an average inflation rate of 3.66% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, $20,000 in Boston in the year 1950 would cost $230,569.74 in 2018 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.51% during this same period, inflation in Boston was higher.

In the year 1950: Pricing changed by 1.31%, which is below the average yearly change in Boston during the 1950-2018 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1950 (1.10%), inflation in Boston was higher.

Price Inflation in Boston, Massachusetts since 1914

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Years with the largest changes in pricing: 1919 (21.27%), 1918 (17.79%), and 1920 (17.25%).

View price changes for other categories
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Buying power of $20,000.00 since 1950

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Boston, over time, for $20,000 beginning in 1950. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1950$20,000.001.31%
1951$21,338.916.69%
1952$21,806.142.19%
1953$21,861.920.26%
1954$21,945.610.38%
1955$22,050.210.48%
1956$22,656.902.75%
1957$23,451.883.51%
1958$24,205.023.21%
1959$24,393.310.78%
1960$24,853.561.89%
1961$25,230.131.52%
1962$25,774.062.16%
1963$26,297.072.03%
1964$26,652.721.35%
1965$27,154.811.88%
1966$27,991.633.08%
1967$28,723.852.62%
1968$29,853.563.93%
1969$31,506.285.54%
1970$33,430.966.11%
1971$35,209.215.32%
1972$36,464.443.57%
1973$38,493.725.57%
1974$42,468.6210.33%
1975$46,297.079.01%
1976$50,062.768.13%
1977$52,615.065.10%
1978$55,425.385.34%
1979$61,004.1810.07%
1980$68,744.7712.69%
1981$76,555.0911.36%
1982$79,832.644.28%
1983$83,361.234.42%
1984$87,461.654.92%
1985$91,338.914.43%
1986$93,835.432.73%
1987$97,838.214.27%
1988$103,584.385.87%
1989$109,623.435.83%
1990$115,969.325.79%
1991$121,227.344.53%
1992$124,184.102.44%
1993$127,880.062.98%
1994$129,497.911.27%
1995$132,608.092.40%
1996$136,485.362.92%
1997$140,418.412.88%
1998$143,584.382.25%
1999$147,057.182.42%
2000$153,361.234.29%
2001$160,153.424.43%
2002$164,239.892.55%
2003$170,320.783.70%
2004$175,202.232.87%
2005$180,753.143.17%
2006$186,527.203.19%
2007$190,038.211.88%
2008$197,006.833.67%
2009$195,405.16-0.81%
2010$198,611.441.64%
2011$203,873.222.65%
2012$207,166.251.62%
2013$210,047.841.39%
2014$213,493.721.64%
2015$214,847.560.63%
2016$217,809.211.38%
2017$223,364.852.55%
2018$230,569.743.23%
2019$235,199.162.01%
2020$237,731.241.08%
2021$245,082.293.09%
2022$262,742.827.21%
2023$272,567.503.74%
2024$276,774.901.54%*

* Not final. See inflation summary for latest details.
** Extended periods of 0% inflation usually indicate incomplete underlying data. This can manifest as a sharp increase in inflation later on.


Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for Boston, Massachusetts:

Year191419151916191719181919192019211922192319241925192619271928192919301931193219331934193519361937193819391940194119421943194419451946194719481949195019511952195319541955195619571958195919601961196219631964196519661967196819691970197119721973197419751976197719781979198019811982198319841985198619871988198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
CPI10.50010.51710.81712.27514.45817.53320.55818.71717.05817.31717.43317.62518.27518.08317.73317.65017.52516.16714.57513.60814.03314.32514.40814.73314.35814.14214.27514.90816.50017.36717.55817.91719.38322.06723.88323.59223.90025.50026.05826.12526.22526.35027.07528.02528.92529.15029.70030.15030.80031.42531.85032.45033.45034.32535.67537.65039.95042.07543.57546.00050.75055.32559.82562.87566.23372.90082.15091.48395.40099.617104.517109.150112.133116.917123.783131.000138.583144.867148.400152.817154.750158.467163.100167.800171.583175.733183.267191.383196.267203.533209.367216.000222.900227.096235.423233.509237.341243.629247.564251.007255.125256.743260.282266.921275.531281.063284.089292.873313.978325.718330.746

Adjust Boston prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2018 / CPI in 1950 * 1950 USD value = 2018 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Boston, Massachusetts was 23.900 in the year 1950 and 275.531 in 2018:

275.531 / 23.900 * $20,000 = $230,569.74

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $20,000 in 1950 has the same "purchasing power" as $230,569.74 in 2018 (in the CPI category of Boston, Massachusetts).


Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for Boston, Massachusetts in 1914. In addition to Boston, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.

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