Boston · Month comparison

January vs September

September ranks #2 overall vs January at #11. University move-in chaos first weekend, then the best Boston month — 23°C, dry blue skies, foliage prelude.

Snowy Beacon Hill cobbled streets in Boston

January

#11 of 12 months

Worth considering

Nor'easter season — snowed-in Beacon Hill cobbles, museum culture, Restaurant Week prices.

  • ↑Boston Restaurant Week (Jan/March) — $20 lunch and $40 dinner at top tables
  • ↑Museum of Fine Arts and Isabella Stewart Gardner empty mornings
September on Boston Common with skyline

September

#2 of 12 months

Best match

University move-in chaos first weekend, then the best Boston month — 23°C, dry blue skies, foliage prelude.

  • ↑Best balance of weather, crowds, prices after Labor Day
  • ↑Harbor cruises and whale-watching still daily
FactorJanuarySeptember
Weather score
3
10
Value score
9
5
Crowd score
9
5
Events score
4
7
Atmosphere
7
10
Avg high temp2°C23°C
Monthly rain90mm90mm
Daily sunshine5hrs9hrs

January trade-offs

  • ↓Nor'easters can drop 30cm in a day, cancel flights and shut the T
  • ↓Freedom Trail icy on cobbled stretches; gloves and grippers essential
  • ↓Cape Cod and Salem day trips off the table

September trade-offs

  • ↓First weekend (Allston Christmas) — university move-in clogs Storrow and Comm Ave
  • ↓Hotel rates still elevated mid-week for conference season
See all 12 months for Boston →January in detail →September in detail →
Scores compare months within Boston. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →