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Best places to live in Massachusetts (2026)

All 38 ranked places in Massachusetts, by all-round score.

Ranked by an all-round score: the average of all 14 quality scores (housing costs, taxes, jobs, healthcare, education, family life, safety, natural disasters, climate and more), weighted equally. Places missing from the FBI crime table are left out, since their safety is unknown. Scores are out of 100.

  1. 1Newton, MASuburb · 3-bed $1.27M · very safe75
  2. 2Waltham, MASuburb · 3-bed $833k · very safe71
  3. 3Framingham, MASuburb · 3-bed $640k · safe71
  4. 4Woburn, MASuburb · 3-bed $747k · very safe71
  5. 5Brookline, MASuburb · 3-bed $1.36M · very safe69
  6. 6Cambridge, MAMid-size city · 3-bed $1.37M · very safe67
  7. 7Arlington, MASuburb · 3-bed $1.10M · very safe67
  8. 8Weymouth Town, MASuburb · 3-bed $590k · very safe67
  9. 9Marlborough, MASuburb · 3-bed $568k · safe66
  10. 10Somerville, MASuburb · 3-bed $1.07M · very safe66
  11. 11Malden, MASuburb · 3-bed $701k · very safe66
  12. 12Attleboro, MASuburb · 3-bed $532k · very safe65
  13. 13Beverly, MASuburb · 3-bed $742k · very safe65
  14. 14Medford, MASuburb · 3-bed $847k · very safe65
  15. 15Lowell, MASuburb · 3-bed $526k · safe64
  16. 16Quincy, MASuburb · 3-bed $725k · safe64
  17. 17Boston, MAMajor city · 3-bed $800k · safe64
  18. 18Everett, MASuburb · 3-bed $645k · safe64
  19. 19Lynn, MASuburb · 3-bed $594k · safe64
  20. 20Methuen Town, MASuburb · 3-bed $540k · very safe63
  21. 21Revere, MASuburb · 3-bed $664k · safe63
  22. 22Salem, MASmall city · 3-bed $660k · very safe63
  23. 23Peabody, MASuburb · 3-bed $696k · very safe62
  24. 24Brockton, MASuburb · 3-bed $504k · moderate crime59
  25. 25Taunton, MASuburb · 3-bed $533k · safe58
  26. 26Westfield, MASuburb · 3-bed $382k · very safe58
  27. 27Lawrence, MASuburb · 3-bed $517k · moderate crime55
  28. 28Worcester, MAMid-size city · 3-bed $447k · moderate crime55
  29. 29Barnstable Town, MASmall city · 3-bed $639k · safe54
  30. 30Northampton, MASmall town · 3-bed $507k · safe54
  31. 31Haverhill, MASuburb · 3-bed $577k · safe53
  32. 32Fall River, MASuburb · 3-bed $462k · moderate crime53
  33. 33Leominster, MASuburb · 3-bed $489k · moderate crime53
  34. 34Chicopee, MASuburb · 3-bed $332k · moderate crime49
  35. 35Springfield, MAMid-size city · 3-bed $307k · higher crime49
  36. 36Fitchburg, MASmall city · 3-bed $414k · safe48
  37. 37New Bedford, MAMid-size city · 3-bed $452k · moderate crime48
  38. 38Pittsfield, MASmall city · 3-bed $311k · moderate crime47

Cheapest places to live in Massachusetts

Ranked by the typical value of a 3-bedroom home (Zillow), lowest first.

  1. 1Springfield, MAMid-size city · rent $2,130/mo · cost of living 96$307k
  2. 2Pittsfield, MASmall city · rent $2,110/mo · cost of living 95$311k
  3. 3Chicopee, MASuburb · rent $2,130/mo · cost of living 96$332k
  4. 4Westfield, MASuburb · rent $2,130/mo · cost of living 96$382k
  5. 5Fitchburg, MASmall city · rent $2,250/mo · cost of living 103$414k

Safest places to live in Massachusetts

Ranked by violent crimes per resident in FBI 2019 data, lowest first. Places missing from the FBI table are left out.

  1. 1Newton, MASuburb · violent crime 0.1× the US rate55 per 100k
  2. 2Arlington, MASuburb · violent crime 0.2× the US rate75 per 100k
  3. 3Brookline, MASuburb · violent crime 0.3× the US rate97 per 100k
  4. 4Beverly, MASuburb · violent crime 0.3× the US rate111 per 100k
  5. 5Waltham, MASuburb · violent crime 0.4× the US rate163 per 100k

Safest places from natural disasters in Massachusetts

Ranked by our natural disaster score: FEMA's expected deaths, injuries and home damage from 18 hazards, plus federally declared disasters in the county since 2000.

  1. 1Northampton, MA7 declared disasters since 2000 · mainly flooding, hurricanes86
  2. 2Barnstable Town, MA6 declared disasters since 2000 · mainly flooding, hurricanes86
  3. 3Chicopee, MA8 declared disasters since 2000 · mainly flooding, hurricanes86
  4. 4New Bedford, MA10 declared disasters since 2000 · mainly flooding, hurricanes86
  5. 5Brookline, MA11 declared disasters since 2000 · mainly flooding, earthquakes85

Best places to live for families in Massachusetts

Ranked by a family score: the average of our Kids & family, Safety, Education and Affordable housing scores. Places missing from the FBI crime table are left out.

  1. 1Newton, MASuburb · kids excellent · safety excellent · 3-bed $1.27M76
  2. 2Framingham, MASuburb · kids excellent · safety good · 3-bed $640k69
  3. 3Arlington, MASuburb · kids good · safety excellent · 3-bed $1.10M69
  4. 4Woburn, MASuburb · kids good · safety excellent · 3-bed $747k68
  5. 5Marlborough, MASuburb · kids good · safety good · 3-bed $568k66

Best places to live · Cheapest places to live · Safest places to live · Safest places from natural disasters · Best places to live for families

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Data: US Census, Zillow, HUD, BEA, FBI 2019, FEMA, NOAA, NASA, CMS, NCES and others. How scores work.