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Greater Boston renters need to make $181K to afford a home

The Greater Boston Housing Report Card suggests the starter home remains out of reach for many.

Real Estate

A homebuyer needs to earn at least $181,000 a year to be able to comfortably afford a single-family home — and a lower-priced one at that — in Greater Boston, a new Boston Indicators report states.Why it matters: Homeownership remains out of reach for Greater Boston residents, especially Black and Latino residents, even as home sale prices soften, per the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="2026 Greater Boston Housing Report Card" data-vars-click-url="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.tbf.org/gbhrc2026__;!!Al82Z4c!0oi6WwEPlcyu-pIrZFHe--o-vsDJQGnku4Fr_ew_heC9HTINLjUIjEsi6PrflbeH0KpKB-XKrtdO3KdGL_6v$" data-vars-content-id="acdaf476-2794-464f-b0a3-d49c4d6b48ab" data-vars-headline="Greater Boston renters need to make $181K to afford a home" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.tbf.org/gbhrc2026__;!!Al82Z4c!0oi6WwEPlcyu-pIrZFHe--o-vsDJQGnku4Fr_ew_heC9HTINLjUIjEsi6PrflbeH0KpKB-XKrtdO3KdGL_6v$" target="_blank">2026 Greater Boston Housing Report Card</a> released Tuesday.

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News

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An outsider's take on the "Love Is Blind" Boston season

Season 11 is now out on Netflix, and a fan of the show from Ohio has thoughts.

Culture

👋 Tyler here, an Axios Local editor from Ohio and longtime &quot;Love is Blind&quot; fan.A confession: I&#x27;ve never visited Boston — I sure hope to someday — but figured <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Season 11" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/09/23/love-is-blind-boston-october" data-vars-content-id="d7cb55af-6f26-44f8-8a01-ee1feac51c63" data-vars-headline="An outsider&#x27;s take on the &quot;Love Is Blind&quot; Boston season" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/09/23/love-is-blind-boston-october" target="_self">Season 11</a> would give me a proper taste.<ul><li>That, or at least a glimpse into your lovely city&#x27;s single life.</li></ul>

Things to do in Boston this week

Catch Journey, Hadestown and the Bruins, meet Flour Bakery's Joanne Chang, explore cat-themed art in SoWa and discover free events around Boston.

Things to Do

From Journey and Hadestown to cat art, cookies and free museum nights, here&#x27;s what to do around Boston this week.

Green Line trains shutting down on Halloween weekend

The Green Line's shuttle service could turn weekend travel into a nightmare.

Transit

The MBTA plans to shut down several Green Line branches next Saturday and Sunday to work on signal upgrades underground.Why it matters: Public transit could become a nightmare for Boston-area college students and anyone else celebrating &quot;Halloweekend.&quot;

MBTA's Red Line fleet replacement might not be finished until the 2030s

The MBTA's latest capital plan puts completion in fiscal 2032. So far, 68 of 252 new cars have been accepted into revenue service.

Replacing all of the MBTA&#x27;s Red Line train cars could now take until at least the early 2030s, according to its latest spending plan.Why it matters: Supply chain problems, international economic winds and other tensions with the Chinese manufacturer have delayed the replacement cars that were originally expected to be in place by the end of the 2010s.

Pressure mounts over center-running bus lane plan in Mattapan

Dozens of Boston residents detailed their frustrations and fears during a two-hour hearing Thursday.

Public Safety

Dozens of Mattapan and Dorchester residents spent two-plus hours on Thursday listing their frustrations and fears over the proposed center-running bus lanes on Blue Hill Avenue.<ul><li>Among them? Making schoolchildren, elders and other pedestrians cross the major thoroughfare to reach the bus. </li></ul>

MBTA looks into using falcons to clear pigeons from stations

The T is asking falconry firms how raptors could deter pigeons, seagulls and starlings at stations and maintenance campuses. No pilot is guaranteed.

The MBTA thinks one way to stop pigeons from pooping all over the stations is to have trained birds of prey ready to swoop in and regulate.Why it matters: Poo-covered subway stations like Tufts Medical and JFK/UMass could get raptor bouncers to keep the pigeons in line.

Part of every Green Line is down this week

Prepare for longer commutes and shuttle service.

Parts of the Green Line are down until this week as the MBTA works on signal upgrades and accessibility-related repairs. Why it matters: Passengers along the city&#x27;s core should expect longer commutes via shuttles and buses through Sunday.

Mass. will add 3 pilots to cut T fares, extend summer discounts

The MBTA pilots stand to benefit some bus riders, seniors and passengers who transfer often.

Massachusetts plans to launch three pilots to cut MBTA fares and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="extend Commuter Rail discounts" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/03/30/commuter-rail-world-cup-tickets" data-vars-content-id="0853ba03-ea32-4073-9372-7d7677a3d7ba" data-vars-headline="Mass. will add 3 pilots to cut T fares, extend summer discounts" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/03/30/commuter-rail-world-cup-tickets" target="_self">extend Commuter Rail discounts</a> this fall.Between the lines: Transit leaders are trying to capitalize on the ridership boost they saw during the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="World Cup" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/07/13/world-cup-train-ridership-commuter-rail-amtrak" data-vars-content-id="0853ba03-ea32-4073-9372-7d7677a3d7ba" data-vars-headline="Mass. will add 3 pilots to cut T fares, extend summer discounts" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/07/13/world-cup-train-ridership-commuter-rail-amtrak" target="_self">World Cup</a> and Sail Boston.

Red Line shutdown looms for Cambridge

The MBTA will suspend the Red Line between Alewife and Park Street from July 21-30.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="The MBTA will suspend Red Line service" data-vars-click-url="https://www.mbta.com/alerts/subway" data-vars-content-id="a8a74295-dccd-44a6-a282-82222f934354" data-vars-headline="Red Line shutdown looms for Cambridge" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.mbta.com/alerts/subway" target="_blank">The MBTA will suspend Red Line service</a> between Alewife and Park Street for 10 days starting Tuesday, through July 30.<ul><li>Instead of trains in the tunnel, free shuttle buses will ferry riders on street level at all eight stations in between Park Street and the northern end of the line.</li></ul>Why it matters: The closure will hit Cambridge&#x27;s busiest transit corridor hard.

World Cup boosted train ridership, but the financial picture's unclear

Amtrak saw a roughly 9% increase in ridership last month compared to June 2025.

The Northeast saw a boost in train ridership during the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="World Cup" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/07/09/world-cup-boston-economic-impact" data-vars-content-id="2310e1b2-9bde-4d8f-9afa-ccd649236924" data-vars-headline="World Cup boosted train ridership, but the financial picture&#x27;s unclear" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/07/09/world-cup-boston-economic-impact" target="_self">World Cup</a>, from Amtrak rides to and from Boston to the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Commuter Rail" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/03/30/commuter-rail-world-cup-tickets" data-vars-content-id="2310e1b2-9bde-4d8f-9afa-ccd649236924" data-vars-headline="World Cup boosted train ridership, but the financial picture&#x27;s unclear" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/03/30/commuter-rail-world-cup-tickets" target="_self">Commuter Rail</a> to Foxborough.The big picture: State and federal officials consider the ridership increase a win, but it remains to be seen whether these public transit systems actually profited from the international tournament.

Why everyone's hating on the Orange Line extension idea

A proposal to bring the Orange Line to Blue Hill Avenue could be a bold move for the Bay State as it struggles with traffic and aging transit systems.

A recent proposal to extend the MBTA&#x27;s Orange Line is already hitting a wall of logistical, financial and political objections.Why it matters: Expanding the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="MBTA" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/transit" data-vars-content-id="68f5b75a-5c14-492d-985f-110f2d596373" data-vars-headline="Why everyone&#x27;s hating on the Orange Line extension idea" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/transit" target="_self">MBTA</a>&#x27;s subway system could be a bold move for the Bay State as it struggles with traffic and aging transit systems.<ul><li>But experts say a plan from City Councilors Miniard Culpepper and Brian Worrell to bring the Orange Line to the Blue Hill Avenue corridor that connects Roxbury, Dorchester and Mattapan isn&#x27;t the answer.</li></ul>

MBTA drops collectible summer CharlieCards

Grab a piece of Boston transit history. The MBTA just released special-edition CharlieCards celebrating major summer events and iconic local landmarks.

The MBTA launched three special-edition collectible CharlieCards on Tuesday to commemorate the series of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="major tourism events" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/02/02/boston-biggest-events-2026-guide" data-vars-content-id="d384f933-3504-4b6b-a5d1-b488c3519d84" data-vars-headline="MBTA drops collectible summer CharlieCards" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/02/02/boston-biggest-events-2026-guide" target="_self">major tourism events</a> coming to Boston this year.Why it matters: The transit agency is capitalizing on the massive influx of visitors expected to come to the Commonwealth for marquee summer celebrations like the country&#x27;s 250th birthday, SailBoston and the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="World Cup" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/05/27/boston-world-cup-watch-parties-fan-fest" data-vars-content-id="d384f933-3504-4b6b-a5d1-b488c3519d84" data-vars-headline="MBTA drops collectible summer CharlieCards" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/05/27/boston-world-cup-watch-parties-fan-fest" target="_self">World Cup</a>.<ul><li>The initial designs feature the Boston Public Library, the USS Constitution and South Station.</li><li>Commemorative cards are currently stocked in fare vending machines at Park Street, Downtown Crossing and Forest Hills.</li></ul>What they&#x27;re saying: MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng framed the release as a unique way to engage with massive summer celebrations.<ul><li>&quot;The collectible cards are a fun way for both riders and visitors to explore the city, discover new destinations, and commemorate their travels,&quot; Eng said in a release.</li><li>What&#x27;s next: Officials will deploy the cards to more than a dozen additional subway stations later this week.</li></ul>

Transit 🚗

Green Line trains shutting down on Halloween weekend

MBTA's Red Line fleet replacement might not be finished until the 2030s

Pressure mounts over center-running bus lane plan in Mattapan

MBTA looks into using falcons to clear pigeons from stations

Part of every Green Line is down this week