Massachusetts is filled with awesome places to live, and each town has its own unique appeal. Sometimes, however, you might be looking for something specific when hunting for new digs. Whether you want a town with awesome natural beauty or a town that’s easy on the wallet, Massachusetts can definitely deliver on all counts. Check out this list of some of the state’s best places to live.
Note: These towns are not ranked in order of awesomeness, and we definitely know that there are SO many incredible towns in Massachusetts.
1. Safety: Chesterfield
This small town is one of the safest places to live in the state, according to NeighborhoodScout.com. Crime rate is low, and so is the population: only 1,239 people call Chesterfield home. The school system is also superb, which makes Chesterfield a great place to raise a family.
2. Scenery: Rockport
With a year-round residency of 6,952, this coastal town's population actually swells quite a bit in the summer when tourists pour into the area. Besides the gorgeous harbor, there are plenty of delicious places to eat and fascinating historical landmarks in Rockport.
3. Arts: Lenox
Lenox is home to Tanglewood, the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and a venue for famous artists such as James Taylor and John Williams. Artists of all kinds have congregated in Lenox over the town's history, with the town having hosted the filming of movies "Before and After" and "The Cider House Rules." If you love great music and beautiful scenery, you'll love Lenox.
4. Nostalgia: Stockbridge
This is the picture-perfect town that inspired Norman Rockwell. Stockbridge's downtown is much as it when when Rockwell immortalized it in his famous painting "Stockbridge Main Street At Christmas." Today, the town is home to the Norman Rockwell Museum, friendly folk, and a spirit of old-fashioned American community.
5. Education: Cambridge
This town is home to two of the world's leading institutions of higher learning: Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. This is a great town to live in if you want to be surrounded by wicked smaht people, and a bunch of awesome bars, restaurants, and arts centers.
6. Peace and Quiet: Leverett
Not only is Leverett the home of the New England Peace Pagoda, a monument to tranquility and friendship, Leverett is also notable for what it DOESN'T have. Namely, this town has no movie theaters, restaurants, or bars. If you're looking for a beautiful town with great schools and quiet sensibilities, Leverett is perfect.
7. Spooks: Salem
Salem has embraced its dark history and is now a wonderful place for thrill and chill seekers. Besides the city's witchy past, Salem is steeped in nautical and whaling history that will delight anyone looking for a quaint and storied town in which to settle down.
8. Summer Fun: Provincetown
This seaside town is perched right on the tip of Cape Cod, and has a well-deserved reputation for playfulness and knowing how to throw a good party. The town is a famed arts colony, and the community is wonderfully inclusive. Property is pretty hard to come by in this little town (at least for a reasonable price), and the town lacks a high school, but Provincetown is a great place to put down temporary summer roots.
9. Skiing: Princeton
Princeton is situated at the foot of Mount Wachusett, one of the highest-rated skiing locales in the state. With a population of 3,413 and an absolutely charming historic district, Princeton is the perfect home base from which to hit the slopes.
10. Affordability: Monroe
Monroe has the cheapest housing in all of Massachusetts. As of 2013, the average assessed home value in Monroe was $95,338. If you don't mind sharing this scenic town with 121 other residents, Monroe could be the ideal place to grab some cheap land and settle down.
What town gets your vote for the best place to live in Massachusetts? Let us know!
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.