Boston is not a US state. It is a city in the state of Massachusetts. Boston is the capital and largest city of Massachusetts. People sometimes call it "Boston" interchangeably because the metro area dominates the state's identity, but Massachusetts is the state.
Massachusetts at a glance
USPS code: MA
Capital: Boston
Largest city: Boston
Region: Northeast
Year admitted: 1788
Why people ask this
"Is Boston a state?" gets searched thousands of times a year. There are three common reasons:
- City is more famous than its state. Travelers see "Boston" on flights, news, sports, and TV — but the state name comes up less often.
- The US has 50 states + many big cities, so it's easy to lose track. Only 17 of the 50 capitals are the largest city of their state — meaning a famous city is usually not the capital.
- People learning US geography from scratch (non-Americans, kids, ESL learners) need a quick disambiguation page like this one. You're welcome.
Quick reference: Boston vs Massachusetts
If you ever need to fill in a form or quiz:
- City: Boston
- State: Massachusetts
- State abbreviation (USPS): MA
- State capital: Boston
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Is Boston a state?
No — Boston is a US city in Massachusetts.
What state is Boston in?
Boston is in Massachusetts.
What is the capital of Massachusetts?
The capital of Massachusetts is Boston — also the largest city
How many cities does Massachusetts have?
Massachusetts has dozens of incorporated cities and towns. The largest is Boston. See all of Massachusetts's major cities and facts.