City assessment
How smart is Boston?
Boston scores 91.8% against the ISO 37120-series aligned smart city framework in 2026, ranked #13 of 386 by smart reach and #3 on the evidence alone, with every finding traceable to a public source.
Each criterion counts in full where the evidence shows it present, half where partial and nothing where absent, weighted by its category. 1 of 86 are not yet assessed and count as nothing until a finding is made either way. Last assessed 24 Oct 2026.
Smart reach rank
#13 / 386
Smart score
91.8%
Evidenced rank
#3 / 387
Criteria present
75 / 86
Evidence coverage
96.5%
Boston's smart city score by area
14 present · 1 partial · 0 absent
11 present · 1 partial · 0 absent
12 present · 1 partial · 0 absent
9 present · 1 partial · 0 absent · 1 not yet assessed
10 present · 2 partial · 1 absent
7 present · 0 partial · 1 absent
12 present · 2 partial · 0 absent
Where Boston is strong
- ▸Open Data & Transparency
- ▸Connectivity & ICT Infrastructure
- ▸Urban Data Platform & Digital Twin
- ▸Public Transport & Real-Time Information
- ▸Smart Traffic & Electric Vehicles
Where the evidence shows gaps
- ▸Public Safety & Emergency · 1 absent, 1 partial
- ▸Innovation & Economic Development · 1 absent
- ▸Education & Digital Skills · 1 partial
- ▸Critical Infrastructure Resilience · 1 partial
- ▸Digital Government Services · 1 partial
Not yet assessed
1 of 86 criteria have no finding yet, either way. They count as nothing in the score until one is made, and they are not gaps.
- Water & Sanitation1 of 4
Evidence highlights
Connectivity & ICT Infrastructure · Fibre / high-speed broadband coverage
The City of Boston's Broadband And Cable department is actively expanding the city's fiber network.
https://www.boston.gov/departments/broadband-and-cableConnectivity & ICT Infrastructure · Public Wi-Fi network
The City of Boston provides "Wicked Free Wi-Fi" for public use.
https://www.boston.gov/departments/innovation-and-technology/wicked-free-wi-fiConnectivity & ICT Infrastructure · 5G mobile coverage
Telecommunication companies deploy "small cells" across Boston on city property like streetlights and utility poles to improve cell phone and data service, and the city maintains a map of these approved antenna locations.
https://www.boston.gov/departments/broadband-and-cable/licensed-wireless-providers-bostonConnectivity & ICT Infrastructure · City IoT / sensor network
Boston has completed a new environmental sensor network and aims to create a city-wide strategy for the use of sensor technologies.
https://www.boston.gov/news/bostons-newest-environmental-sensor-network-completeAbout this assessment
Boston was assessed against the 86 criteria of the ISO 37120-series aligned smart city framework on 24 Oct 2026 by AI agents gathering evidence from official public sources. Each criterion is marked present, partial or absent, or left not yet assessed, and every finding links to where it was found. Cities are re-assessed in runs, not continuously: the latest finished on 24 Oct 2026.