Thermostat settings by state

Thermostat settings in Massachusetts

By Ismail Farooq · Updated 2026-10-30

How most homes heat: Natural gas and heating oil, often through boilers; heat pumps are growing quickly.

Massachusetts winters are long and cold, and many homes are old, with gas or oil boilers and radiators or baseboard. Those usually have two-wire thermostats. Triple-deckers and older houses also commonly have a boiler for heat and a separate system for cooling, so check for Rh and Rc.

Mass Save, the state’s utility energy program, has offered rebates on smart thermostats and large heat pump incentives. If you add a heat pump to a house with a boiler, set up the controls so the heat pump runs first and the boiler is backup.

Climate zones in Massachusetts

Zones follow county lines on the 2021 IECC map, and some counties changed zone between code editions. DOE’s Building America climate zone map lists every county.

Starting settings

• Everyday setpoints: about 68 °F in winter and 78 °F in summer while you’re home, set back while you sleep or are out (DOE’s guidance).
• Gas, oil or propane furnace or boiler: setbacks of 7 to 10 °F are fine; use the thermostat’s early-start feature so the house is warm on time.
• Heat pump: keep winter setbacks small (2 to 4 °F) so a cold morning doesn’t bring on aux heat.
• Cold, damp winters: if you have a humidifier, let the thermostat lower its target as it gets colder outside so windows don’t drip.

Heat pump lockouts for Massachusetts

If you have a heat pump, these are starting points for the outdoor temperatures that control backup heat. Your installer’s balance point is better if you have it.

Rebates

Many utilities give rebates or bill credits for smart thermostats, sometimes in return for joining a peak-day program. Programs change often, so check your electric and gas utility’s website, or search by ZIP code in the ENERGY STAR rebate finder.