Boston vs Nantucket: which is sunnier?
🇺🇸 United States vs 🇺🇸 United States · 146 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Boston and Nantucket are virtually tied for annual sunshine — about 2,157 vs 2,196 hours a year. Boston has the higher Sunshine Score in 5 of 12 months, Nantucket in 3 (4 within 2 points).
Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.
At a glance
| Boston | Nantucket | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 2,157 | 2,196 |
| Sunniest month | July (74/100) | July (78/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 3/100 | 5/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 73/100 | 71/100 |
| Rain / year | 1,207 mm | 1,126 mm |
| Warmest sea | 20°C / 68°F | 20°C / 68°F |
| Peak midday UV | 7 (high) | 7 (high) |
Boston vs Nantucket month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | Sea °C | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | Nantucket | Boston | Nantucket | Boston | Nantucket | Boston | Nantucket | |
| January | 0 | 0 | 1° | 4° | 80 | 91 | 4° | 6° |
| February | 0 | 0 | 2° | 4° | 86 | 87 | 4° | 4° |
| March | 0 | 0 | 6° | 5° | 110 | 106 | 5° | 5° |
| April | 30 | 0 | 13° | 8° | 107 | 97 | 8° | 8° |
| May | 68 | 25 | 19° | 12° | 95 | 86 | 13° | 12° |
| June | 71 | 57 | 24° | 17° | 113 | 84 | 18° | 16° |
| July | 74 | 78 | 28° | 21° | 94 | 72 | 19° | 19° |
| August | 74 | 78 | 28° | 22° | 93 | 74 | 20° | 20° |
| September | 74 | 68 | 24° | 19° | 92 | 95 | 19° | 20° |
| October | 52 | 41 | 17° | 15° | 123 | 114 | 15° | 16° |
| November | 12 | 18 | 10° | 11° | 98 | 106 | 10° | 12° |
| December | 0 | 0 | 4° | 7° | 116 | 114 | 6° | 8° |
The sunnier month by month: Jan even · Feb even · Mar even · Apr Boston · May Boston · Jun Boston · Jul Nantucket · Aug Nantucket · Sep Boston · Oct Boston · Nov Nantucket · Dec even.
When to pick which
- November–February: too close to call — Boston averages 3/100, Nantucket 5/100. Nantucket is the warmer, around 7°C daytime highs vs 4°C. See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: Boston (average score 33/100 vs 8). Boston is the warmer, around 13°C daytime highs vs 8°C.
- June–August: too close to call — Boston averages 73/100, Nantucket 71/100. Boston is the warmer, around 27°C daytime highs vs 20°C.
- September–October: Boston (average score 63/100 vs 55). Boston is the warmer, around 21°C daytime highs vs 17°C.
Sea temperature
Both seas peak at 20°C / 68°F. Swimmable water (21°C+): Boston never, Nantucket never. Month-by-month sea temperatures are in the table above.
Full month-by-month guides: Boston weather by month · Nantucket weather by month · Best time to visit United States.
More comparisons: Boston vs Providence/Warwick · Boston vs Manchester · Boston vs Portland · Nantucket vs Providence/Warwick · Nantucket vs Martha's Vineyard · Nantucket vs Hamilton · all head-to-heads