Boston · Month comparison

March vs October

October ranks #1 overall vs March at #6. Fall foliage peak (Oct 10-25) plus Salem Halloween Month — Boston's most photographed weeks.

South Boston St Patrick's Day parade

March

#6 of 12 months

Strong option

St Patrick's Day — Boston's most Irish weekend, parade in Southie, Guinness everywhere.

  • ↑South Boston (Southie) St Patrick's Parade — biggest east of New York
  • ↑Evacuation Day (17 March, city holiday) coincides
October foliage on Boston Public Garden

October

#1 of 12 months

Best match

Fall foliage peak (Oct 10-25) plus Salem Halloween Month — Boston's most photographed weeks.

  • ↑Foliage on Comm Ave, Public Garden and the Common at world-class peak
  • ↑Salem (30 min north) Haunted Happenings runs all month
FactorMarchOctober
Weather score
5
10
Value score
8
4
Crowd score
8
4
Events score
7
10
Atmosphere
8
10
Avg high temp8°C17°C
Monthly rain100mm110mm
Daily sunshine7hrs7hrs

March trade-offs

  • ↓St Pat's weekend hotel rates jump 50%
  • ↓100mm rain and possible late nor'easter; weather genuinely unpredictable

October trade-offs

  • ↓Salem and foliage day-tripper traffic clogs every northbound road
  • ↓Hotel rates spike for Head of the Charles weekend
  • ↓110mm rain — wettest autumn month
See all 12 months for Boston →March in detail →October in detail →
Scores compare months within Boston. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →