Boston’s unmistakable accent is getting national recognition. A new survey from language-learning platform Preply ranked the Boston/New England accent as the second most attractive regional accent in the country, behind only the Southern accent.
Boston’s accent ranks among America’s favorites
Preply surveyed 2,551 adults across all 50 states, with at least 50 respondents in each state, between April 30 and May 8. The survey asked participants which state and regional accents they find most attractive.
Here’s how the Boston/New England accent performed:
- No. 2 most attractive accent in the U.S., with 10.2% of responses.
- No. 1 most attractive accent outside the South.
- The Southern accent ranked first nationally, earning 17.7% of responses.
- Boston/New England finished ahead of accents associated with places including New York City and the Midwest.
Massachusetts also stood out in Preply’s state-level results.
- Massachusetts ranked No. 6 nationally for the country’s most attractive state accent.
- The Bay State received 3.8% of responses.
- Massachusetts ranked ahead of every other New England state, including Connecticut, Maine, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Vermont.
Are regional accents fading?
Despite Boston’s strong showing, many respondents believe regional differences in speech may be becoming less distinct.
- 28.4% of Americans said social media platforms such as TikTok make people across the country sound more alike.
- About 1 in 4 respondents said they do not feel particular pride in their own regional accent or slang.
For Boston, however, the results reinforce what locals have long known: the city’s distinctive voice — dropped Rs, familiar phrases and all — remains one of the country’s most recognizable and admired.
While the most recent survey shows an admiration for the Boston accent, the reactions and feedback towards the storied accent haven’t always been favorable.
