Kitchen remodel cost in Massachusetts: what Boston-area kitchens really cost

The most common question I get at a first walkthrough is simple: what does a kitchen remodel cost in Massachusetts? The honest answer is a range, and the best public benchmark is Remodeling magazine's Cost vs. Value report, which puts a midrange major kitchen remodel in Boston at about $84,331 in 2025. Below I break down those figures and explain what pushes a real Somerville or Cambridge kitchen up or down from them.

Average kitchen remodel cost in Massachusetts: the 2025 Boston numbers

Here are the Boston figures from the 2025 Cost vs. Value report (Boston, MA), next to the national averages from the same report.

Know what those numbers describe. The report's minor remodel is a 200-square-foot kitchen where the cabinet boxes stay, the doors and drawer fronts are replaced, and you get new appliances, laminate counters, a sink, resilient flooring and paint. The midrange major remodel adds 30 linear feet of semi-custom cabinets, a 3x5-foot island, a vented range hood and new lighting.

Real kitchens in Greater Boston rarely match a model project exactly, so treat these as a starting point, not a quote.

What drives the cost in Somerville and Cambridge kitchens

Most homes I work in around Davis Square, Union Square and East Somerville were built between about 1900 and 1930. That age shows up in the budget. The biggest cost drivers I see:

• Moving things. Keeping the sink, range and fridge where they are is the cheapest path. Moving plumbing or gas lines, or taking out a wall, adds trades, structure and time.
• What's inside the walls. Old knob-and-tube or undersized wiring, galvanized pipe and out-of-level floors often surface once we open up.
• Electrical capacity. New appliances, an induction range and modern lighting may need new circuits or a bigger service. Work has to meet the Massachusetts Electrical Code, now based on the 2026 NFPA 70 and effective April 24, 2026.
• Venting. A real ducted hood is the right call, and in a middle-floor triple-decker unit the duct route can be the hard part (more on that below).
• Cabinets and counters. Stock, semi-custom and custom cabinets are a big swing in price and lead time.
• Access. Third-floor units, narrow back stairs, no driveway and dumpster or parking permits on tight Somerville streets all add labor.
• Condo rules. Many associations limit work hours, require approval of plans and want proof of permits before work starts. Read your master deed and bylaws early.

Every house is different. I give a written line-item budget after a free walkthrough, so you can see exactly where the money goes.

Permits for a kitchen remodel in Somerville

Somerville's Inspectional Services Division requires a building permit before work starts on any alteration, and interior gut work needs one too. Applications go through the city's online CitizenServe portal.

• A licensed electrician must pull the electrical permit.
• A licensed plumber must pull the plumbing and gas permits.
• A contractor applying for the building permit submits their Construction Supervisor License.

My Somerville building permit guide walks through the full process step by step.

Lead-safe rules for pre-1978 homes

Almost every triple-decker in Somerville, Cambridge and Medford was built before 1978, so lead paint is a given until a test says otherwise. In Massachusetts, renovation, repair or painting in a pre-1978 home must be done by a licensed lead-safe renovation contractor under 454 CMR 22.00. Massachusetts runs its own program under the EPA's RRP rule.

Containment, plastic, HEPA cleanup and cleaning verification add time and cost, but they protect your family and your neighbors. More detail is in my lead paint renovation guide.

Induction rebate: $500 from Mass Save

If you're switching from gas or propane to induction, Mass Save offers a $500 rebate for an ENERGY STAR certified induction stove that replaces a natural gas or propane stove.

• Covers purchases from January 1 through December 31, 2026; applications are due by February 28, 2027.
• Your existing gas or propane stove must be verified before it's removed. Before-and-after photos work.
• One cooktop rebate per account; new units only.

How to budget so the number holds

1. Decide early whether the layout stays or moves. That one choice moves the budget more than any finish.
2. Carry a contingency for what's behind 100-year-old plaster.
3. Pick cabinets, appliances and counters before demo so lead times don't stall the job.
4. Get a written contract. Under M.G.L. c. 142A, s. 2, home improvement work over $1,000 needs one, and the deposit generally can't exceed one-third of the price or the cost of special-order materials, whichever is greater.

Need a hand?

If you're planning a kitchen in Somerville, Cambridge, Medford or anywhere in Greater Boston, book a free walkthrough. I'll look at your layout, wiring, venting and access, then send a written line-item budget, usually within 48 hours.

About the author

Mateus Magno is the founder of Magno & Co — a licensed Massachusetts Construction Supervisor (CS-123658), registered Home Improvement Contractor (HIC #220484) and certified Lead-Safe Renovator Supervisor who has renovated and managed over $3 million in projects across Greater Boston.

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