Roof replacement cost in Massachusetts: the 2025 Boston number and what changes it

What is the average roof replacement cost in Massachusetts? Remodeling magazine's 2025 Cost vs. Value data puts a full asphalt shingle roof replacement in Boston at $35,658. Below I explain what that price covers and why a Somerville or Cambridge roof often lands above or below it.

Short version: size and pitch set the base price. Old layers, chimneys, rotten boards and street access decide the final number.

Roof replacement cost in Massachusetts: the 2025 Boston figure

The 2025 Cost vs. Value report for Boston prices two roofing jobs. The asphalt project spec is a 30-square (3,000 sq ft) hip roof stripped to bare sheathing, with fiberglass shingles carrying at least a 25-year warranty, new felt or synthetic underlayment, drip edge, aluminum flashing, two skylights and a vented ridge.

My math: the asphalt job works out to about $1,190 per square (100 sq ft). The same report puts the national average at $31,871, so Boston runs about 12% higher.

What drives the price on Somerville multi-families

The model roof is a simple hip. Most roofs I see from Davis Square to East Somerville are not. Here is what moves the price:

• Layers to tear off. The code says a roof replacement removes the existing layers down to the deck (IRC R908.3). On 1900 to 1930 houses I often find two or three layers, and each one adds labor and dumpster weight.
• Pitch and height. Steep Victorian roofs and three-story triple-deckers need staging, roof jacks and fall protection.
• Chimneys and flashing. Old brick chimneys usually need new step and counterflashing, and sometimes repointing first.
• Rotten sheathing. Nobody knows how many boards are bad until the old roof is off.
• Skylights, dormers and valleys. Every one adds flashing work.
• Dumpster and street access. Somerville requires a permit for every dumpster: from Inspectional Services if it sits on the street, or from Fire Prevention if it sits on your property. It cannot go within 20 feet of an intersection or 10 feet of a hydrant.

Every house is different, which is why I price each roof after climbing it.

Permits and fees in Somerville

Somerville's ISD Building Division requires a building permit for all exterior work except painting, tiling and flooring. On a building with three or more units, a licensed contractor must pull it.

Fees come from the City's building fee schedule:

• $20 per $1,000 of estimated cost (up to $100,000).
• $4 per $1,000 for building code plan review.
• A safety review fee of 0.35% of the cost, minimum $100.

On a $35,658 roof, that is roughly $980 if every line applies. Cambridge and Boston run their own permit desks with their own fees.

Ice and water shield: the code basics

• Massachusetts marks ice barrier underlayment as required in its climate table (Table R301.2(1)).
• Under IRC R905.1.2, it runs from the lowest roof edge to at least 24 inches inside the exterior wall line.
• On slopes of 8:12 or steeper, it must also extend at least 36 inches along the slope from the eave.
• If an old ice barrier is fully adhered to the deck, it may stay and be covered with a new layer (R908.3 exception).

The Cost vs. Value spec lists felt or synthetic underlayment only, so make sure your quote includes the ice barrier. Massachusetts also says reroofing must meet the energy code (780 CMR R901.1). For why the eaves matter so much here, read my guide to ice dams in Somerville.

Lead-safe trim work

A roof job almost always disturbs painted fascia, soffits and rake boards. In Massachusetts, paid work in housing built before 1978 that disturbs more than 20 square feet of painted exterior surface must be done by a licensed lead-safe renovation contractor, with a certified supervisor on site. That means plastic on the ground, careful scraping and a full cleanup. My lead paint guide explains what to expect.

Repair first, or replace?

Not every leak means a new roof. A failed chimney flashing or a few blown shingles can often be fixed for a fraction of the cost. My repair or replace guide walks through the signs I look for.

Need a hand?

I manage roof replacements across Somerville, Cambridge and Greater Boston, including the trim, flashing and lead-safe work around them. Book a free walkthrough and I will send a written line-item budget, usually within 48 hours.

Planning work on your home? See everything I do, how I price work and the towns I work in.

About the author

Mateus Magno founded Magno & Co in 2020. He is 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 $5 million in projects across Greater Boston.

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