Best small towns to live in Massachusetts

1. 1
   Sturbridge, MA Score 70/100

   2,443 people · typical home $418k · household income $132k · 220 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 84% of MA · 1.0% unemployment · 3 mi to a hospital

2. 2
   Williamstown, MA Score 67/100

   5,070 people · typical home $439k · household income $98k · 106 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 61% of MA · 2.0% unemployment · 6 mi to a hospital

3. 3
   Fiskdale, MA Score 65/100

   2,311 people · typical home $409k · household income $112k · 283 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 57% of MA · 6.0% unemployment · 6 mi to a hospital

4. 4
   Lee, MA Score 63/100

   1,511 people · typical home $301k · household income $71k · 313 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 34% of MA · 4.0% unemployment · 10 mi to a hospital

5. 5
   Vineyard Haven, MA Score 63/100

   2,469 people · typical home $847k · household income $78k · 222 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 38% of MA · 2.0% unemployment · 2 mi to a hospital

6. 6
   West Brookfield, MA Score 60/100

   1,563 people · typical home $314k · household income $77k · 146 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 65% of MA · 7.0% unemployment · 9 mi to a hospital

7. 7
   Great Barrington, MA Score 56/100

   2,331 people · typical home $525k · household income $65k · 356 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 55% of MA · 4.0% unemployment · 2 mi to a hospital

8. 8
   Northfield, MA Score 54/100

   1,070 people · typical home $301k · household income $72k · 170 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 79% of MA · 5.0% unemployment · 11 mi to a hospital

9. 9
   Nantucket, MA Score 52/100

   10,017 people · typical home $1.5M · household income $148k · 190 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 71% of MA · 6.0% unemployment · 1 mi to a hospital

10. 10
    Adams, MA Score 51/100

    5,427 people · typical home $197k · household income $49k · 351 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 81% of MA · 6.0% unemployment · 5 mi to a hospital

11. 11
    Shelburne Falls, MA Score 47/100

    1,845 people · typical home $315k · household income $77k · 365 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 76% of MA · 5.0% unemployment · 7 mi to a hospital

12. 12
    Housatonic, MA Score 46/100

    1,113 people · typical home $437k · household income $76k · 498 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 51% of MA · 2.0% unemployment · 5 mi to a hospital

13. 13
    Millers Falls, MA Score 42/100

    1,054 people · typical home $254k · household income $69k · 365 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 85% of MA · 4.0% unemployment · 6 mi to a hospital

14. 14
    North Adams, MA Score 42/100

    12,606 people · typical home $196k · household income $48k · 1,088 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 74% of MA · 5.0% unemployment · 2 mi to a hospital

15. 15
    Turners Falls, MA Score 34/100

    4,124 people · typical home $247k · household income $55k · 365 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 83% of MA · 5.0% unemployment · 3 mi to a hospital

16. 16
    Athol, MA Score 33/100

    8,801 people · typical home $249k · household income $67k · 366 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 93% of MA · 9.0% unemployment · 3 mi to a hospital

17. 17
    Provincetown, MA Score 33/100

    3,452 people · typical home $959k · household income $158k · 248 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 81% of MA · 7.0% unemployment · 26 mi to a hospital

18. 18
    Orange, MA Score 21/100

    3,737 people · typical home $231k · household income $48k · 358 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 93% of MA · 12.0% unemployment · 6 mi to a hospital

How we ranked them

Every small town in Massachusetts with 1,000–15,000 people that stands on its own (not part of a big metro core, by USDA rural-urban codes) and has solid Census data. Each town is scored against the others in Massachusetts on: affordability (household income vs. home prices), safety (violent crime, FBI), schools (reading proficiency vs. other Massachusetts districts), jobs (unemployment, half weight) and everyday access (distance to a hospital and a grocery store, quarter weight each). Missing numbers count as average.

The "best" town is different for everyone — weather, size, politics, things to do and more all matter too.

All places in Massachusetts →