3 MA Cities Lead Nation In 2025 Holiday Spending, WalletHub Finds

Three Massachusetts cities are expected to spend more on the holidays this year than most of the country, according to a new WalletHub analysis that ranked communities by their projected 2025 holiday budgets.

The personal finance website compared more than 550 U.S. cities using factors such as income, savings and debt levels to estimate how much residents can comfortably spend this holiday season.

“Depending on the city, an American’s holiday budget this year can range anywhere from just over $200 to more than $4,000, taking into account residents’ income, their existing debt obligations and the cost of living," said Chip Lupo, a WalletHub analyst.

The leading city for Massachusetts was Newton at $4,069, which came in at No. 3 nationwide.

Cambridge was next at No. 16 with a holiday budget of $3,347. Next was Somerville at No. 17 with $3,330.

WalletHub’s researchers say the strongest scores came from communities with high incomes relative to expenses, leaving residents more discretionary money for travel, gifts and celebrations.

But the study also noted that high spending averages don’t necessarily reflect individual households, many of which continue to face inflation pressures and rising living costs.

Related: Tariff Changes In MA Ahead Of Holiday Shopping: What To Know

Statewide, experts advise Bay Staters to review their budgets before diving into seasonal spending. Even in affluent cities, large holiday budgets can lead to post-season financial strain if credit card debt balloons, WalletHub said.

Here's the nationwide top 10:

1. Palo Alto, California
2. Mountain View, California
3. Newton, Massachusetts
4. Flower Mound, Texas
5. Kirkland, Washington
6. Milpitas, California
7. Sunnyvale, California
8. Santa Clara, California
9. Redwood City, California
10. Bellevue, Washington

WalletHub’s full report is available here.

Read more: Record Thanksgiving Travel Expected: Here Are The Worst Times To Hit The Road In MA