13 Best Places to Live in Massachusetts in 2024

There are quite a few great qualities that would make someone want to settle in Massachusetts. From a rich historical heritage and beautiful natural scenery to highly ranked healthcare options, it is easy to see why the Bay State attracts young professionals, established families, and even senior citizens. For those planning a move in the near future, the state presents a wonderful setting in which to establish a new life.

However, Massachusetts is also ranked among the priciest states in the United States, a credit to its high cost of living. Like any other potential homeowner, it helps to determine which areas suit your financial position before executing the move. With so many options to choose from, here are some of the best places to live in Massachusetts.

Westfield

This adorable community in Hampden County combines rural and suburban living with access to big-city amenities. This is an assurance to new residents that they can enjoy a laid-back atmosphere with access to outdoor opportunities at Hampton Ponds State Park and Half Mile Falls Park. Westfield’s New England personality shines through its bustling brewery scene. The town is dotted with craft breweries, which also act as great hangouts for friends to catch up in the evenings, including the Great Awakening Brewing Co.

There are numerous ways to spend time with loved ones, especially when the kids are involved. You can take them to Amelia Park Children’s Museum for a fun learning experience. With a median home listing price of $355,000, Westfield is an affordable option for anyone planning to acquire a home.

Brewster

Brewster is a cozy coastal community on the Lower Cape that would be an excellent choice for those who appreciate outdoor pursuits. With its relaxed beach scenery and lengthy shorelines, it presents the ideal setting to raise a family. The town harbors lovely open spaces fit for unwinding and meditation, from Breakwater Beach to Crosby Landing Beach. With a history dating back to 1659, Brewster hosts a fair share of historical sites that provide for an interesting indoor pursuit. The Brewster Historical Society is an excellent spot if you are curious about the town’s colorful past.

Residents also enjoy access to admirable art venues in Brewster that are worth checking out. A good example is Cape Rep Theater, which captivates audiences with exciting stage performances. On the flip side, homes do not come cheap here; the average cost of a house is around $939,900.

Stoneham

Stoneham has a reputation for being one of the friendliest places to live in Massachusetts. It sits a few miles north of Boston, promising easy access to all the superior amenities in the big city. However, it has a much more suburban flair with plenty of green spaces for outdoor recreation. These are available in plenty across the 2,200 acres of the Middlesex Fells Reservation, from hiking and biking to fishing and camping. Several kid-friendly attractions make for excellent family outings, including Stone Zoo and Zoo New England.

Those with a preference for nostalgic experiences can visit the Stoneham Historical Society and Museum, which documents the town’s past through a rich collection of artifacts. Despite its proximity to Boston, Stoneham has a reasonable median housing cost of $699,000.

Wayland

This quaint bedroom community in Middlesex County presents one of the most pleasant places you can choose to establish a forever home. It has a long history, dating from its founding in 1638, which you can explore inside the Wayland Historical Society. Outdoor recreation opportunities abound in the multiple green spaces throughout the town, highlighted by the Hannah Williams Playground. Residents who prioritize body wellness appreciate the presence of Stretch Zone and benefit from different professional therapies meant to unlock their bodies.

Even with its rural vibe, Wayland offers several urban amenities, including the biggest curling club in the Boston region, Broomstones Curling Club. While homes can be pricey in Wayland, with the median price at $1.3M, the tradeoff is living in one of the safest places in Massachusetts.

Wakefield

Wakefield’s rich diversity can be seen in its vibrant downtown, which harbors an exciting mix of entertainment centers, shopping outlets, and dining venues. You can choose from a long selection of trendy eateries to meet friends or family over a sumptuous meal, including Caffe Italia, which specializes in delectable Italian dishes. The town’s charm further emanates from a strong sense of community, which comes to the fore during the Wakefield Farmers Market. With a friendly mood taking over the market, this is one of the best times for newcomers to socialize and make new acquaintances. When it is time to head outdoors, the vast territory of Breakheart Reservation ensures endless recreation, offering hiking trails, freshwater lakes, hardwood forests, and fishing spots. For a Boston suburb, the average cost of homes in Wakefield is pretty fair at $669,500.

Watertown

Watertown is renowned for being the site of the first tax protest against the British and ended up playing a vital role in the infancy stages of the Revolutionary War. Today, it is a quiet Boston suburb with a relatively youthful population, but its relatively laid-back personality will entice new residents. Some of the major attractions include the Armenian Museum of America, which exhibits over 25,000 artifacts of Armenian origin. Watertown is also home to Thomson Safaris, which organizes once-in-a-lifetime wildlife safaris to Africa for those who fancy an exotic trip.

Central Rock Gym presents residents with a fun way of keeping fit through rock climbing, which many will appreciate. With Boston being a short distance, you enjoy easy access to superior social and health facilities but pay for this in hiked housing costs, averaging about $849,900.

Rockport

Spending your days in the charming scenery of the Atlantic coast sounds like an enticing prospect for anyone. You can manifest this dream by settling in Rockport, a charming coastal community at the tip of the Cape Ann Peninsula. The town has a deep appreciation for the arts, and folks can find numerous galleries to admire local art, including Ken Knowles Fine Art. A couple of museums keep the indoor inclined engaged at all times, with Paper House transporting guests back to the early 19th century.

With easy access to the beach, locals will lavish the opportunity to step into the open spaces and explore sites like Halibut Point State Park and Front Beach. Meanwhile, the median home cost here is $663,800.

Gloucester

Gloucester is a beautiful coastal town on Cape Ann, boasting some of the best beaches in the region. Residents have all the reasons to spend their free time exploring the outdoors, thanks to attractions like Good Harbor Beach and Half Moon Beach. Uncovering Glucester’s history will take you back to the mid-1600s when the town was established, and this colorful heritage is documented inside the Cape Ann Museum. Elsewhere, Maritime Gloucester focuses on the town's nautical history.

Another must-see site in Gloucester is Stage Fort Park, representing the first spot where early pioneers settled in the town. Because of its strategic beachside location, real estate prices here are quite steep, with a median value of about $1M.

Lenox

If small-town charm is what you are looking for in a community, it does not get better than this adorable village in Berkshire County. With stunning vistas of the Berkshire Mountains, Lenox has beautiful natural surroundings that beckon you to step outside. Mass Audubon’s Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary is an excellent escape for animal lovers and nature enthusiasts. It spans over 1,000 acres of raw wilderness, featuring forests, wetlands, and meadows.

On the other hand, historians can check out the gorgeous Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum, a famous landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Finally, the town’s average house listing value is $807,300.

Great Barrington

This lovely mountain town in Berkshire County ensures residents have something to do all around the year. It has lovely natural scenery with access to alpine trails at Monument Mountain Reservation. Meanwhile, angling enthusiasts can charter a vessel from Berkshire Rivers Fly Fishing to enjoy a quaint fishing session on the Berkshire River while enjoying stunning views of the Berkshire Mountains.

Come the snow season, all roads lead to the Butternut Ski Area and Tubing Center, where winter sports lovers make the most of the powdery slopes. Art is a big part of the local community, and townsfolk converge inside Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center to catch riveting live performances. Finally, acquiring a home in Great Barrington costs an average of $575,000.

Belmont

This close-knit suburban community of about 27,000 falls within the Greater Boston metropolitan region. Its proximity to the famous city allows for ready access to vital social and health amenities. However, it manages to maintain a charming rural vibe with several green areas, including Beaver Brook Reservation and Underwood Playground. New settlers looking to establish contact with the locals can meet friendly faces at Sophia’s Greek Pantry while shopping for different house supplies.

Meanwhile, Orangetheory Fitness offers a chance to remain active and healthy, and signing up for membership allows you to access the services of a professional trainer. Also, owning a home in Belmont will set you back around $1.3M, but with little crime to worry about.

Shrewsbury

This warm community in Worcester County invites you to be part of its charming diversity. It offers a range of outdoor opportunities, and residents gather at Dean Park to take advantage of a serene waterfront oasis and indulge in recreations like picnicking, walking, and sports. The fun does not stop in Shrewsbury, even when the winter season comes around. This is a credit to Ski Ward Ski Area, which draws snowboarders, skiers, and tubers with its nine ski slopes.

Those with a soft spot for tasty wines will enjoy visiting Broken Creek Vineyard and Winery, which produces a great selection of wines in a serene location. Finally, the Shrewsbury housing market is a little on the upside, with a median value of $725,000.

Sharon

Sharon is a richly natural town with lots of greenery and wildlife to see. Residents here cannot get enough of the outdoors, thanks to the numerous park spaces around the town. One of the best areas outdoor enthusiasts can escape to is Mass Audubon’s Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary. Spreading more than 1,900 acres, it hosts diverse hiking trails through forests, wetlands, and fields with exciting animal viewing opportunities. Summers in Sharon are spent at Memorial Park Beach, home to a beautiful swimming lake and quaint picnic areas.

Beyond the outdoors, you can join the Cape Club of Sharon to establish meaningful connections with community members and take advantage of facilities like an 18-hole golf course. Lastly, Sharon’s median home value is about $650,000.

Although Massachusetts can be a costly destination to live in, you can still find affordable places within your budget. Away from the metro areas, several small towns provide the perfect rural setting to make lasting memories with loved ones. Their strong sense of community and numerous opportunities to explore the outdoors allows newcomers to look forward to an active and entertaining lifestyle. Whether looking for a coastal location or a hillside village, the above charming towns provide an ideal place to live in Massachusetts.